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THE  UNIVERSITY 

OF  ILLINOIS 

LIBRARY 

977.5996 
C36h 


IH.MTB  fflSTORICM  SURVEY 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 

in  2012  with  funding  from 

University  of  Illinois  Urbana-Champaign 


http://archive.org/details/historyofjohnsonOOchap 


MRS.  P.  T.  CHAPMAN 


ERRATA 

Page  67.  "Coverlets  of  wool  and  rag  rugs"  should  read  Coverlets, 
wool  and  rag  rugs. 

Page  78.  The  election  held  at  John  Bradshaw's  was  for  the  pur 
pose  of  electing  Territorial  Representatives. 

Page  82.  In  the  tenth  line  of  the  first  paragraph  "or"  should  be 
omitted  between  oven  and  near. 

Page  132.  "Douglas  Rose"  should  read  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Douglas 
Rose. 

Page  163.  The  names  of  H.  M.  Ridenhower  and  T.  J.  Murry  were 
omitted  from  the  list  of  lawyers. 

Page  258.     Adrespodendum  should  be  adrespondendum. 

Page  279.  H.  M.  Ridenhower  was  omitted  from  the  list  of  State's 
Attorneys  and  J.  W.  Damron  from  the  list  of  Assessor  and  Treasurers. 

Page  304.     The  name  Helter  should  be  Hetler. 

Page  313.  U.  .C  Simpson  should  be  W.  C.  Simpson  in  the  list  of 
Vienna  Woman's  club  members. 

Page  363.  The  third  line  from  the  top  of  the  page  should  be 
omitted. 

Page  393.  The  seventh  line  from  the  top  of  page  is  omitted  and 
should  read  "question.  He  lived  to  be  eighty  eight  years  old.  J.  C. 
B.  Heaton." 


OF 


A  HISTORY 

OF 

JOHNSON   COUNTY 
ILLINOIS  ' 

BY 
MRS.  P.  T.  CHAPMAN 


WITH  MAPS  AND  ILLUSTRATIONS 


Copyrighted  1925 

by 

MRS.  P.  T.  CHAPMAN 


Press  of  The  Herrin  News 
1925 


This  book  is  dedicated  to  my  hus- 
band, Pleasant  Thomas  Chapman,  who 
has  spent  his  life  in  the  community  of 
his  birth  and  has  never  faltered  in  his 
loyalty  to  its  interest. 


663732 


^\ 


PREFACE 

We  will  never  realize  what  it  meant  to  the  men  and 
women  of  a  hundred  years  ago  to  leave  their  homes  and  all 
that  was  dear  to  them  and  lay  the  foundation  of  a  new 
civilization  in  the  unbroken  forest.  The  heart  aches,  the 
deprivations,  the  longings  for  old  friendships  and  home  we 
will,  it  is  hoped,  never  experience.  Most  of  us  have  a  tend- 
ency to  smile  at  the  rude  hut,  primitive  customs,  and  lack 
of  comforts  of  the  pioneer,  but  rather  let  us  reverence  their 
determined  course  in  founding  a  civilization  from  which 
you  and  I  are  reaping  the  results.  The  North  West,  think 
of  her  wealth,  population  and  power,  and  to  whom  it  is  due. 

Several  years  ago  I  was  asked  to  prepare  a  paper  on 
the  early  history  of  Johnson  County  to  be  read  at  a 
Teachers  Institute.  In  looking  up  material  for  this  I  found 
what  seemed  to  me,  some  very  interesting  documents;  also 
in  writing  to  Mr.  G.  B.  Gillespie,  then  as  now,  a  resident 
of  Springfield  but  a  native  of  this  county,  for  some  data  he 
suggested  that  this  county  should  have  a  history  and  that  I 
should  write  it. 

Having  been  a  housekeeper  for  years  and  with  no  ex- 
perience in  writing  for  publication,  I  began,  perhaps  fool- 
ishly, to  gather  material  for  this  work.  The  times  I  have 
censured  my  friend  for  his  suggestion,  I  could  not  number, 
but/l'itfit" rrjjy  hand  to  the  plow"  I  did  not  have  the  courage 
to  turn  back.  I  have  met  with  discouragements  and  hind- 
rances, yet  most  people  have  been  exceptionally  willing  to 
help  me. 

Heretofore  this  county  has  had  no  history  except  some 
biographies  appearing  in  the  Tri-County  History  of  Massac, 
Pope  and  Johnson,  and  since  there  is  but  one  other  county 
in  the  state  without  a  published  history  and  ours  being  so 
rich  in  interesting  events  and  records  of  pioneer  days,  not 
common  to  other  localities,  I  felt  that  I  should  like  to  try 
to  perpetuate  at  least  some  of  them. 


XII  A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


This  book  is  not  perfect.  I  have  tried  to  be  accurate 
with  circumstances  and  dates  but  in  the  biography  I  fear 
there  are  many  mistakes  owing  to  the  manner  in  which  I 
was  obliged  to  gather  much  of  the  information,  sometimes 
over  the  telephone,  through  letters  not  clearly  written,  and 
from  older  people  whose  memory  was  inaccurate  as  to 
names. 

Please  do  not  say  "I  could  have  told  her  correctly."  No 
doubt  you  could,  but  I  did  not  know  it.  And  if  inclined  to 
be  too  critical  all  I  ask  is  that  you  undertake  to  trace  a 
large  family  from  the  first  to  the  sixth  generation.  Per- 
haps some  would  say  biography  isn't  history,  but  it  appears 
to  me,  that  the  history  of  a  place  is  the  history  of  its  people. 

I  appreciate  the  many  kindnesses  shown  me  in  my 
work  and  feel  deeply  grateful  to  each  one  who  has  contri- 
buted in  the  least  to  this  self  imposed  task  of  mine.  Hoping 
it  may  interest  the  older  ones,  assist  the  younger  ones,  and 
that  this  imperfect  effort  will  not  be  entirely  fruitless,  1 
present  to  you,  kind  reader,  the  result. 

Mrs.  P.  T.  C. 

January  1925. 


HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


PART  I 


The  first  civilized  government  that  was  extended  over 
Johnson  County  was,  no  doubt,  the  authority  of  England. 
When,  in  1609,  King  James  granted  to  the  London  Company 
"All  those  lands,  countries,  and  territories  called  Virginia, 
from  the  cape  or  point  of  land  called  Comfort,  all  along  the 
seacoast,  to  the  northward  two  hundred  miles,  and  from 
the  said  point  on  the  coast  southward  two  hundred  miles, 
and  all  that  space  and  circuit  of  land  lying  from  the  sea- 
coast  of  the  precinct  afore  said,  up  into  the  land  throughout, 
from  sea  to  sea,  west  and  northwest."  Johnson  county  be- 
came theoretically,  at  least,  part  of  the  possession  of  Eng- 
land. Although  the  charter  of  the  London  company  was 
renewed  and  then  annulled,  Virginia  always  insisted  on  her 
from  "sea  to  sea"  grant  and  thereby  included  in  her  domain 
this  tiny  speck  of  mother  earth  called  Johnson  County,  with 
all  the  other  vast,  unexplored  territory. 

But  for  Gain  and  the  Gospel,  we  might  still  be  undis- 
covered. France  had  no  claim  in  the  new  country  by  right 
of  discovery,  but  she  set  about  securing  her  portion  by 
other  means.  As  early  as  1504  French  fishermen  had  visited 
the  region  of  New  Foundland.  In  1609  Champlain,  a 
Frenchman,  discovered  the  lake  which  bears  his  name.  He 
went  back  to  France,  and  in  1615,  returned  to  America  with 
four  priests.  He  established  missions  in  Canada,  and  with 
the  Missions  opened  trade  with  the  Indians.  He  was  un- 
fortunate with  his  warfare  on  some  of  the  tribes  and  so 
caused  strife  among  the  Indians,  and  the  fur  trade  was 
paralyzed,  for  twenty  years.  Finally  a  truce  was  made  and 
trade  was  resumed.  The  French  trader  who  recognized 
the  vast  wealth  in  the  fur  trade,  the  soldier  of  fortune  who 
longed  to  plant  the  Lilies  of  France  on  every  available  spot, 
and  the  humble  Jesuit  whose  consuming  desire  was  to  plant 
the  Gospel  in  every  human  heart,  encroched  step  by  step 
into  the  Northwest  Territory. 

In  1678,  Joliet,  in  the  interest  of  the  French  Govern- 
ment and  Marquette  in  the  interest  of  the  church,  explored 
the  Mississippi  as  far  as  the  mouth  of  the  Ohio.    This  ex- 


14  A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


pedition  had  carried  the  authority  of  France  far  to  the  south 
and  almost  around  the  English  settlements.  The  advantage 
to  France  of  completing  the  circuit  can  easily  be  discerned. 
In  fact  LaSalle,  in  1667  had  seen  the  advantage  to  be  gained 
for  his  country  by  discovering  the  mouth  of  the  Mississippi. 
He  pursued  this  idea  with  relentless  vigor  and  when  in  1682 
he  descended  this  father  of  waters  to  its  mouth,  he  took 
possession  of  this  wonderful  valley  in  the  name  of  the  sover- 
eign of  France,  calling  it  Louisiana  in  honor  of  Louis  the 
XIV,  and  we  became,  figuratively  speaking,  Frenchmen  or 
citizens  under  the  French  Government.  But  all  these  heroic 
efforts  to  make  the  Mississippi  valley  French  by  coloniza- 
tion, to  secure  wealth  from  her  vast  store-house,  and  make 
us  all  good  French  Catholics,  came  to  an  end.  The  Treaty 
of  Paris,  1763,  made  us  again  an  English  possession. 

We  were  not  destined  to  remain  English  for  any  great 
length  of  time.  The  restless  people  of  the  Atlantic  coast 
were  pushing  out  irito  the  great  Northwest.  Tennessee, 
Kentucky,  and  the  southern  part  of  Illinois  were  being  set- 
tled, even  though  still  menaced  by  the  Indians.  Then  by 
declaring  themselves  "free  and  independent,"  in  1776  the 
Colonies  made  us  for  a  short  time  Virginians.  In  1779  the 
"County  of  Illinois"  was  established.  Captain  John  Todd  was 
appointed  "County  Lieutenant  Commandant"  but  the  gov- 
ernment was  never  effective  and  soon  ceased  altogether. 

Virginia,  however,  soon  ceded  us  to  the  United  States 
and  in  1784  we  became  a  part  of  that  Great  Northwest 
Territory. 

These  changes  in  government  disturbed  the  citizens  of 
this  county  very  little.  Certain  it  is,  nevertheless,  that  there 
were  people  living  in  Johnson  County,  in  the  latter  part  of 
the  18th  century.  'Boggs  says  there  were  650  families  living 
along  the  Ohio  .river  in  1801  and  this  river  washed  the 
shores  of  the  first  Johnson  County  for  many  miles.  Victor 
Collet  also  states  there  were  seven  or  eight  families  living 
near  Ft.  Massac  in  1796.  This  fort  was  in  Johnson  when 
the  county  was  organized.  Reynolds  tells  us  the  Flanneries 
settled  in  Alexander  County  in  1777  which  was  also  John- 
son County  territory  at  that  time.  The  seat  of  government 
being  so  far  away  and  the  means  of  communication  so  very 
difficult,  the  people  of  this  section,  like  all  other  frontier 
communities  were  a  law  unto  themselves. 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY  15 


LOCATION 

Johnson  County  is  in  Southern  Illinois,  in  that  part  of 
this  great  commonwealth  that  lies  south  of  the  Ohio  and 
Mississippi  railroad  running  from  Vincennes  across  the 
state  to  St.  Louis,  excepting  St.  Clair  County.  This  section 
is  not  designated  on  the  school  geographies  as  'Egypt,'  but 
by  common  usuage  and  politically  it  has  been  known  in  the 
state  for  many  years  by  that  name.  Different  reasons  have 
been  given  for  this  appellation,  and  whether  of  odium  or 
honor,  depends  on  the  point  of  view. 

The  most  obvious  reason  for  such  a  name  having  been 
attached  to  this  region  is  that  many  of  the  towns  in  the  sec- 
tion bear  the  names  of  those  in  the  older  Egypt  of  the 
African  Continent:  Cairo,  at  the  junction  of  the  Ohio  and 
Mississippi,  Thebes,  on  the  Mississippi,  and  Karnak,  on  the 
Big  Four  railroad.  Alexander  is  the  name  of  the  most 
southern  county  in  this  section  and  is  the  masculine  for 
Alexandria,  another  ancient  city  of  Egypt.  Some  are  un- 
kind enough  to  say  the  name  comes  from  lack  of  education 
and  progress  in  this  section.  That  Egypt  where  Joseph  fled 
from  Herod  with  Mary  and  the  Babe  and  from  which  we 
take  our  name,  was  noted  as  the  home  of  ancient  civilization, 
learning,  marvelous  public  improvements,  and  historic  cities. 
Our  modern  'Egypt'  may  not  boast  of  all  the  attributes  of 
that  country  but  she  is  proud  of  her  pioneer  families,  native 
population,  and  patriotic  record.  Others  say  that  the  name 
came  from  the  following  incident :  In  the  summer  of  1821 
there  was  not  a  bushel  of  corn  raised  in  Central  Illinois. 
The  old  settlers  of  the  southern  part  of  the  state  had  plenty 
and  the  farmers  of  the  central  section,  like  the  brethern  of 
Joseph,  had  to  go  down  into  Southern  Illinois  to  get  corn. 

Johnson  County  was  once  very  proud  of  her  area.  At 
its  organization  it  included  all  the  land  between  the  Missis- 
sippi and  Ohio  rivers  and  from  70  to  80  miles  north  of  the 
Ohio.  As  early  as  1837,  J.  M.  Peck,  an  historian,  of  Illi- 
nois, said  of  Johnson  County,  "It  was  organized  from  Ran- 
dolph in  1812  and  is  situated  in  the  southern  part  of  the 
state.  It  is  bounded  on  the  north  by  Franklin,  east  by  Pope, 
south  by  the  Ohio  river,  and  west  by  Union  and  Alexander 
counties.  It  is  from  25  to  30  miles  long  and  eighteen  miles 
wide.  Its  area  is  about  486  square  miles.  This  territory  is 
watered  by  Cache  and  Big  Bay  Creeks.     Between  these 


16  A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


streams,  and  ten  or  twelve  miles  from  the  Ohio,  which 
makes  its  southern  boundary,  is  a  line  of  ponds  interspersed 
with  ridges  and  islands  of  rich  land."  This  was  written  be- 
fore Massac  and  Pulask  were  organized. 

At  present  the  county  is  bounded  on  the  north  by 
Williamson,  on  the  east  by  Pope,  by  Massac  and  Pulaski  on 
the  south  and  Union  on  the  west.  The  most  southern  line 
of  the  county  is,  at  its  nearest  point,  four  or  five  miles  from 
the  Ohio  river,  and  the  western  line  in  some  places  is  as 
near  as  twenty  miles  to  the  Mississippi  river.  It  is  situated 
between  88  degrees,  44  minutes  and  89  degress,  4  minutes 
west  longitude ;  37  degrees,  20  minutes,  37  degrees,  38  min- 
utes north  latitude,  about  the  same  latitude  as  the  city  of 
Richmond,  Virginia. 

ORGANIZATION 

Up  to  1790  the  settlers  who  had  braved  the  wilderness 
and  Indians  and  located  in  southern  Illinois  knew  little  of 
laws  and  government,  but  in  that  year  St.  Clair  came  as 
Governor  of  the  Northwest  Territory,  and  began  to  bring 
order  out  of  chaos.  He  organized  ft  county  and  named  it 
after  himself,  the  eastern  boundary  running  through  the 
eastern  part  of  the  present  Johnson  County  and  terminating 
at  or  just  above  Ft.  Massac,  on  the  Ohio  River.  Cahokia  was 
the  county  seat.  The  little  strip  of  Johnson  county  beyond 
the  eastern  boundary  of  St.  Clair  was  in  what  was  then 
known  as  Knox  County.  Randolph  County  was  organized  in 
1795  from  St.  Clair,  with  Kaskaskia  as  the  county  seat,  but 
a  small  strip  of  Johnson  still  remained  in  Knox  till  1801 
when  Randolph's  boundaries  were  changed. 

Johnson  was  wholly  within  the  bounds  of  Randolph 
county  until  1812,  when  Governor  Edwards  with  Alexander 
Stewart,  Jesse  B.  Thomas,  and  Stanley  Griswold,  Territorial 
Judges,  acting  as  a  Legislature,  defined  and  named  John- 
son county  as  follows:  "Beginning  at  the  mouth  of  Lusk 
Creek  (which  is  in  what  is  now  Pope  County  on  the  Ohio 
River)  thence  with  a  line  of  Gallatin  to  Big  Muddy  thence 
down  Big  Muddy  and  the  Misissippi  to  the  Ohio  River,  and 
up  the  Ohio  to  the  beginning,  I  do  appoint  the  house  of  John 
Bradshaw  to  be  the  seat  of  justice  for  Johnson  County.  Done 
at  Kaskaskia,  14th  of  September,  1812,  by  the  Governor, 
Ninian  Edwards."    These  boundaries  included  what  is  now 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY  17 


Alexander,  Pulaski,  Massac,  Johnson,  Union  and  parts  of 
Pope,  Williamson,  Saline  and  Jackson  Counties. 

Madison  and  Gallatin  were  organized  at  the  same  time, 
these  three  being  the  third  counties  set  out  in  the  state.  In 
1816  Jackson  and  Pope  were  organized,  making  a  direct 
line  almost  across  the  state  from  Big  Muddy  on  the  west  to 
Saline  river  on  the  east.  All  below  this  line  from  the  Missis- 
sippi to  the  Ohio  was  Johnson  and  Pope,  the  eastern  line  of 
Johnson  being  a  little  west  of  its  present  location  and  ex- 
tending to  the  Ohio  river.  Again  in  1818,  there  was  an 
attack  by  the  organizers  and  Union  was  taken  wholly  from 
Johnson  county  territory.  Alexander  was  defined  the  fol- 
lowing year,  including  part  of  Pulaski.  In  1843  Johnson 
county  was  encroached  upon  once  more  by  the  formation  of 
Massac  and  Pulaski  and  the  consequent  reduction  of  John- 
son to  its  present  limits  of  340  square  miles.  It  thus  became 
one  of  the  smallest  counties  in  the  state.  It  comprises  a 
little  over  nine  townships,  and  is  almost  square  in  shape. 
About  eight  miles  of  the  southern  boundary  is  formed  by 
Cache  river.  Along  this  section  the  county  extends  about 
two  miles  further  south  than  the  rest  of  the  southern  bound- 
ary. 

The  division  of  the  county  into  townships  was  begun 
early  in  the  county's  history.  On  January  15,  1813,  when 
the  first  court  was  held  at  the  house  of  John  Bradshaw  in 
Elvira  with  Hamlet  Furguson  and  Jesse  Griggs  as  judges, 
under  the  Territorial  law  which  empowered  them  to  trans- 
act the  business  of  the  county,  the  townships  known  as  Big'- 
Bay,  Muddy,  Center,  Clear  Creek,  Cache  and  Massac  were 
laid  off.  These  were  the  militia  districts  which  had  been 
created  by  the  Governor  for  the  defense  of  the  settlers 
against  hostile  Indians.  These  townships  were  described  as 
follows:  "The  district  that  lies  on  the  eastern  corners  of 
this  county  on  the  Big-Bay  waters  and  at  present  known 
by  the  name  of  Captain  Whiteside's  company  and  agreeably 
to  the  boundaries  of  said  company,  as  laid  off  by  a  board  of 
officers,  shall  be  created  into  one  township  and  called  the 
township  of  Big-Bay,  and  the  militia  company  of  Captain 
Griffith's  on  Muddy,  (described)  in  like  manner,  shall  be 
called  the  township  of  Muddy."  This  township  was  located 
in  the  northwest  part  of  the  county,  on  what  is  now  called 
Big  Muddy  river.     Captain  Bradshaw's  company  bounds 


18  A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


formed  Center  township  and  was  in  the  center  of  the  county. 

Captain  Green's  company  bounds  was  named  Clear 
creek  township,  which  was  located  in  the  southwestern  part 
of  the  county  on  the  Mississippi  river.  Captain  Lamb's  Com- 
pany on  the  northeast  side  was  called  Cache ;  Captain  Fox's 
company  made  Massac  township. 

One  can  readily  see  these  townships  were  immense  at 
the  time  they  were  laid  off.  Big-Bay  township,  being  the 
southeastern  corner,  included  portions  of  what  is  now  Pope 
and  Massac  counties.  The  township  of  Muddy  included 
parts  of  the  present  counties  of  Williamson,  Jackson  and 
Union.  The  township  of  Center  included,  no  doubt,  sections 
of  the  present  Johnson  and  Union,  possibly  Alexander. 
Clear  Creek  township  was  the  counties  of  Alexander,  Pul- 
aski, and  perhaps  parts  of  Johnson  and  Union.  Cache  town- 
ship when  first  established  was  in  the  northeastern  part  of 
the  first  bounds  of  Johnson  county  including  possibly  some 
of  Saline,  Pope  and  Williamson.  Massac  township  included 
Massac  county  in  its  present  form,  with  possibly  a  little  of 
Johnson  and  Pope.  These  militia  districts  had  been  laid 
off  according  to  Territorial  law  and  while  they  were  called 
townships,  they  were  not  the  size  and  shape  of  the  present 
township  and  might  more  properly  be  called  districts. 

In  1814,  the  court  divided  the  township  of  Center  and 
the  bounds  of  Captain  William  Thornton's  Company,  being 
a  militia  company,  was  formed  into  a  new  township  to  be 
known  as  Elvira.  At  the  March  term  the  court  created 
some  new  townships  and  changed  the  boundaries  of  some 
of  the  old  ones  as  follows :  "All  that  part  of  the  county  that 
lies  between  what  is  called  the  ponds  and  the  Ohio  river  be 
created  into  a  new  township  to  be  known  by  the  name  of 
Massac,  and  all  west  of  the  center  line  dividing  range  three 
shall  form  a  township  by  the  name  of  Elvira  and  all  east  of 
the  aforesaid  line  as  far  as  the  county  line  of  Pope  shall  be 
known  by  the  name  of  Cache."  At  the  September  court, 
1819,  held  at  Vienna,  the  name  of  Cache  township  was 
changed  to  Bloomfield  and  that  of  Elvira  to  Vienna  town- 
ship. These  boundaries  "and  names  were  changed  from 
time  to  time.  In  1871  the  names  of  the  townships  are  given 
as  follows:  Saline,  Sulpher  Springs,  Bluff,  Elvira,  Bun- 
combe, Cache,  Flat  Lick,  Simpson  and  Vienna.  That  same 
year  the  question  of  the  county  taking  on  the  township 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY  19 


form  of  government  was  submitted  to  the  people  and  carried 
at  the  November  election.  Issac  Wise,  Bluett  Bain  and 
John  C.  Albright  were  appointed  to  divide  the  county  into 
townships.  Their  report  was  given  in  December  term  1872. 
The  new  townships  were  Burnside,  Tunnel  Hill,  Goreville, 
Elvira,  Bloomfield,  Simpson,  Grantsburg,  Vienna  and  Cache, 
these  names  and  divisions  have  continued  till  the  present. 

NAME 

Johnson  county  was  named  in  honor  of  Col.  Richard 
M.  Johnson,  a  native  of  Kentucky  and  a  friend  of  Governor 
Ninian  Edwards,  who  was  also  from  that  state.  He  was 
'born  at  Bryants  Station  in  1781 ;  was  educated  at  the  Uni- 
versity of  Transylvania  Lexington,  Kentucky.  He  selected 
the  profession  of  law  and  began  his  career  at  the  age  of 
nineteen.  He  served  in  the  war  of  1812  as  Colonel  of  Volun- 
teers. Colonel  Johnson  has  been  given  the  credit  of  killing 
Tecumseh  at  the  battle  on  the  Thames  river,  but  this  fact 
has  been  disputed  by  some  who  say  that  Tecumseh  was  not 
killed  until  later.  But  Johnson  did  kill  in  this  battle  a 
famous  Indian  warrior  who  might  have  been  Tecumseh.  He 
was  wounded  himself  during  the  engagement.  President 
Madison  in  his  message  to  Congress,  December  7,  1813,  re- 
ferring to  the  results  of  the  Campign  in  the  North  West, 
speaks  of  him  in  the  following  manner:  "Colonel  Johnson 
and  his  mounted  volunteers,  whose  impetuous  onset  gave  a 
decisive  blow  to  the  ranks  of  the  enemy,  with  others  (referr- 
ing to  General  Harrison)  forced  a  general  action,  which 
quickly  terminated  in  the  capture  of  the  British  and  the  dis- 
persion of  the  Indians." 

Colonel  Johnson  represented  first  his  district  in  the 
Legislature  of  Kentucy,  was  next  elected  as  a  Jackson  demo- 
crat to  the  United  States  Congress  when  not  quite  25  years 
of  age.  He  then  served  two  terms  as  United  States  Senator ; 
was  elected  to  the  Vice-Presidency  with  Van  B'uren  in  1836. 
He  was  defeated  for  that  office  in  1840  but  later  elected  to 
the  State  Legislature  of  Kentucky  and  died  in  Frankfort, 
November  19,  1850. 

PHYSICAL  FEATURES  AND  SOIL 

In  writing  of  southern  Illinois,  Lewis  C.  Beck  says, 
"That  part  of  Illinois  that  lies  south  of  the  great  and  little 


20  A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


Wabash  to  the  Ohio  river  is  about  as  hilly  as  Hertford- 
shire, England.  It  is  intersected  with  streams  and  inter- 
spersed with  natural  meadows ;  these  are  very  irregular  and 
are  dotted  with  clumps  of  trees  like  English  Parks."  Such 
a  description  gives  a  fairly  animate  general  picture  of  John- 
son County.  It  is  one  of  the  most  hilly  and  broken  counties 
in  Illinois.  It  is  crossed  from  west  to  east  in  the  northern 
part  by  an  elevated  ridge,  known  as  the  Ozark  Uplift,  which 
is  in  reality  the  foothills  of  the  Ozark  Mountains.  This  ridge 
enters  the  state  from  Missouri  and  extends  across  the  entire 
northern  part.  The  highest  points  of  this  ridge  in  the  coun- 
ty rise  to  an  elevation  of  800  feet  above  sea  level.  The  low- 
est part  of  the  county  lies  along  Cache  River  where  the 
elevation  decreases  to  about  300  feet.  The  Ozark  Ridge 
forms  the  watershed  or  divide  between  the  streams  which 
flow  toward  the  north  and  those  which  flow  south.  The 
fall  of  the  streams  on  the  northern  slope  is  slight  and  the 
erosion  is,  therefore,  not  great.  On  the  southern  slope  the 
streams  have  a  very  rapid  fall;  erosion  has  been  active  so 
that  the  most  broken  part  of  the  county  lies  in  the  central 
and  southern  section.  The  small  streams  have  cut  out  can- 
yon-like gorges,  sometimes  as  much  as  200  feet  in  depth; 
the  sides  of  these  gorges  are  often  formed  by  almost  per- 
pendicular cliffs  that  wind  through  the  uplands  so  unnotice- 
ably  that  one  does  not  suspect  their  presence  until  very 
near  them. 

A  broken  and  irregular  line  of  cliffs  cross  the  county 
parallel  to  the  Ozark  Ridge  and  two  or  three  miles  south 
of  it.  Although  these  cliffs  and  rocky  gorges  are  most  fre- 
quent in  the  part  of  the  county  south  of  the  Ozark  Ridge, 
they  occur  also  in  other  sections,  especially  in  New  Burn- 
side  and  Grantsburg  townships.  Between  the  ravines  are 
broad  rolling  ridges.  The  surface  in  general  may  be  char- 
acterized as  rolling  and  hilly.  The  rocks  of  this  area  are 
sand  stone,  limestone  and  shale.  This  is  not  our  only  asset 
from  stony  lands.  They  are  things  of  beauty,  have  been, 
and  will  be  a  joy  forever.  No  one  can  look  on  the  towering 
cliffs  without  being  thrilled  with  their  grandeur  and  made 
to  wonder  at  the  mighty  force  that  must  have  been  in  action 
to  make  them  as  they  are.  Some  are  gray,  some  red,  some 
brown,  and  yellow,  covered  with  lichens,  moss  and  flowers ; 
the  myriads  of  long  fronded  ferns,  the  drooping  branch,  the 
secluded  cave,  the  ever  green  of  the  cedar,  the  trickling 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY  21 


stream,  all  combine  to  draw  you  to  their  inviting  nooks. 
They  are  not  so  monstrous  they  awe  you,  so  bare  they  repel 
you,  but  seem  to  say,  "Come  bring  your  baskets,  we  have 
cool  shade,  quiet,  rest  and  protection  for  you. 

It  can  well  be  imagined  that  this  topography  creates 
all  kinds  of  attractive  nooks  and  corners,  particularly 
adapted  to  that  well  loved  recreation,  a  picnic.  Ferndale, 
a  beautiful  spot  with  its  rocks,  shady  dells,  ferns,  and 
streams,  situated  a  short  distance  south  from  Tunnell  Hill, 
directly  on  the  Big  Four  railroad,  has  long  been  a  favorite 
picnic  grounds.  People  may  reach  it  from  points  on  the 
railroad  both  north  and  south.  Benson's  Bluff,  five  or  six 
miles  north  of  Vienna  on  the  old  Marion  Road,  is  another 
ideal  place  for  the  basket  lunch  but  it  can  be  reached  only 
by  local  conveyance.  Near  Simpson  is  some  very  beautiful 
scenery  of  the  type  described  above;  also  some  mineral 
springs  said  to  be  very  fine  in  a  medicinal  way.  This  is  a 
lovely  spot  to  camp.  Fern  Cliff  is  a  most  attractive  place 
of  natural  beauty  and  a  resort  quite  widely  known.  It  is 
situated  in  Goreville  township  and  about  a  mile  and  a  half 
from  the  Chicago  and  Eastern  Illinois  railroad.  Several 
years  ago  a  company  of  Marion  citizens  bought  20  acres  in 
the  heart  of  the  scenery  and  built  a  club  house  and  used  it 
as  a  resort.  Leon  Dennison  was  the  moving  spirit  of  the 
corporation  and  after  his  removal  from  Southern  Illinois, 
Miss  Emma  Rebman,  of  this  county  bought  it  and  occupies 
it  as  a  home.  It  is  hoped  that  some  time  it  will  be  a  county 
park  through  her  generosity.  It  is  now  known  as  "Redman- 
Park  Fern  Cliff,"  Redman  Park,  in  honor  of  Miss  Redman's 
brother,  Thomas,  who  was  associated  with  her  in  her  office 
of  County  Superntendent  of  Schools.  This  spot  must  be 
seen  to  be  appreciated,  huge  walls  of  stone,  bowlders,  caves 
streams,  trees,  wildflowers,  ferns,  all  contribute  to  make  up 
an  ideal  place  in  which  to  spend  a  day,  a  week,  a  month, 
shut  in  with  nature  and  your  companions. 

Johnson  County  has  its  largest  area  covered  with  what 
is  known  by  soil  experts  as  Memphis  silt  loam.  This  sur- 
face soil  is  an  important  and  extensive  type ;  its  color  varies 
from  pale  yellow  to  reddish  yellow  and  it  runs  to  an  average 
depth  of  ten  inches.  When  dry,  this  soil  is  loose  and  non- 
adhesive.  Its  looseness  is  partly  due  to  the  small  percentage 
of  clay.    It  is  called  "clay  land"  although  it  does  not  show 


22  A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


the  heavy,  sticky  qualities  of  clay.  This  soil  is  very  porous, 
very  absorbent,  and  retentive  of  moisture.  With  the  excep- 
tion of  the  rough,  stony  land,  the  entire  surface  of  the  up- 
land is  covered  with  Memphis  silt  loam.  This  loam  also 
occurs  as  low  ridges  along  lower  Cache  and  is  often  called 
"second  bottom"  being  considered  in  these  sections  of  great 
agriculture  value.  A  variety  of  crops  may  be  grown  upon 
this  type  of  soil :  corn,  wheat,  oats,  Irish  and  sweet  potatoes, 
clover,  alfalfa,  cowpeas,  timothy,  and  fruits  of  most  every 
variety.  The  fruits  grown  in  this  county  are,  however,  on 
the  ridges  on  high  ground  where  the  climatic  conditions 
make  them  less  liable  to  the  late  frosts. 

Waverly  silt  loam  covers  the  next  largest  area  of  the 
county  and  ranges  from  whitish  yelldw  to  a  light  brown 
color.  When  dry  it  is  loose  and  floury ;  but  is  slightly  sticky 
when  wet.  It  absorbs  rain  readily.  It  is  an  alluvial  soil, 
being  made  by  material  washed  off  the  hills,  brought  down 
by  the  streams,  restored  and  deposited  by  the  overflow  of  the 
streams.  Leaves,  twigs,  and  other  forms  of  organic  matter 
have  been  covered  by  these  deposits,  making  this  soil  very 
productive  in  such  crops  as  corn,  hay  and  alfalfa.  There  is 
still  a  great  deal  of  timber  in  the  section  where  this  soil  is 
found.  These  wooded  tracts  are  very  valuable  as  pasture 
land.  This  soil  is  found  only  along  the  streams  or  in  places 
where  streams  have  been.  The  principal  acreage  of  this 
soil  is  found  along  Cache  River,  in  the  South  West  part  of 
the  county,  some  also  along  Lick,  Dutchman,  Little  Cache, 
and  Big  Bay  creeks,  while  smaller  tracts  are  found  along 
the  lesser  streams.  Elvira,  Cache,  Vienna,  Grantsburg  and 
Simpson  townships  are  the  only  localities  in  which  any  con- 
siderable area  of  this  soil  lies. 

Lewis  C.  Beck  in  1823  says :  "This  county  of  Johnson  has 
a  large  proportion  of  level  land,  which  is  generally  well 
wooded.  Its  soil  is  sandy,  as  yet,  it  is  but  thinly  populated, 
owing  perhaps  to  the  unhealthiness  caused  by  the  overflow- 
ing of  the  Ohio  River  and  the  marshes  which  abound  near 
the  southern  boundary.  When  these  shall  be  drained  and 
the  inhabitants  turn  their  attention  to  the  cultivation  of 
tobacco,  cotton,  and  the  grape,  all  of  which  would  yield  pro- 
fitable crops,  it  will  no  doubt,  become  flourishing  and 
wealthy." 

The  smallest  portion  of  the  county's  surface  is  covered 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY  23 


with  the  "Yazoo  Clay."  Its  color  is  a  dark  brown,  caused 
by  the  large  amount  of  organic  matter  it  contains.  It  is  a 
heavy  silty  loam  or  clay,  quite  granular  and  rather  sticky. 
This  type  of  soil  is  found  only  along  the  Cache  River  and 
in  the  southwestern  part  of  the  county.  It  is  just  coming 
under  cultivation,  since  the  days  of  drainage  and  gives  a 
very  high  yield  of  corn  and  hay. 

Rough  stony  land  may  be  found  in  Johnson  County, 
also,  in  which  the  soil  is  so  broken  and  the  underlying  rocks 
rise  to  the  surface  so  frequently  that  the  land  is  of  little 
agriculture  value.  In  some  cases  there  are  cliffs  that  are 
more  than  150  feet  high.  At  the  foot  of  these  cliffs  are  found 
large  bowlders,  weighing  many  tons,  which  have  broken 
off  from  the  rocks  above.  Between  these  bowlders  are 
patches  of  soil  which  support  a  heavy  growth  of  timber, 
giant  ferns  and  wild  flowers  of  every  kind  and  color.  The 
sections  of  rough,  stony  land  are  usually  found  in  narrow 
strips,  winding  through  the  country  or  forming  bluffs  along 
the  streams.  They  are  most  frequent  along  the  southern 
slope  of  the  Ozark  Ridge,  but  they  are  also  scattered  over 
the  entire  county.  These  stony  areas  are  by  no  means  com- 
plete waste  lands.  Inexhaustible  springs  of  water,  always 
found  among  the  cliffs,  greatly  enhance  their  value  as  pas- 
ture lands  and  they  have  become  an  everlasting  supply  of 
stone.  One  of  the  principle  railroads  in  the  state  works  a 
quarry  from  which  it  has  ballasted  hundreds  of  miles  of 
road. 

CLIMATE 

The  average  rainfall  for  this  county  is  43.72  inches. 
The  heaviest  rainfall  comes  generally  in  March,  May  and 
June;  August,  September  and  November  show  the  least. 
But  with  the  possible  exception  of  August  or  September 
there  is  seldom  a  month  in  the  year  that  has  not  some  rain. 
In  the  occasional  deviation  from  this  general  rule  the  clim- 
ate resembles  that  of  California  as  being  "unusual."  One 
conspicuous  variation  came  in  the  year  1854  when  no  rain 
fell  from  June  until  December.  Crops  were  short  and  many 
people  had  to  haul  water  from  neighboring  wells  and 
springs  for  family  use  and  for  their  stock  to  drink.  How- 
ever, in  general,  the  foot  hills  of  the  Ozark  Mountains  which 
cross  the  northern  part  of  the  county  have  an  appreciable 


24  A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  GOUNTY 


influence  upon  the  amount  of  rainfall  as  compared  with  the 
counties  lying  to  the  north. 

The  temperature  varies  somewhat,  rarely  going  below 
zero  and  then  for  not  more  than  a  few  hours  at  a  time.  In 
the  hotest  months,  June,  July  and  August  the  theremometer 
hovers  between  75  and  85,  on  the  warmest  days  rarely  going 
as  high  as  above  90.  Ordinarily  the  winters  are  not  extreme 
and  while  there  is  always  some  snow  and  ice,  it  is  for  short 
periods  only.  The  winter  of  1917-18  will  long  be  remem- 
bered as  the  one  of  the  deep  snow.  The  snow  began  to  fall 
about  December  8,  1917  and  continued  to  fall  at  intervals 
for  three  or  four  weeks.  The  ground  was  not  visible  for 
almost  two  months  and  the  drifts  were  so  deep  in  many 
places  as  to  make  the  roads  impassable.  While  our  poor 
boys  were  digging  trenches  before  the  Germans,  many  peo- 
ple in  the  county  were  digging  roadway  trenches  in  the 
snow  to  get  from  house  to  barn,  to  the  neighbors  or  to  the 
nearby  market. 

Winds  are,  of  course,  prevalent  during  March  and  April 
though  they  are  not  strong  enough  to  be  called  storms.  The 
strongest  winds  come  with  the  rain  which  is  almost  always 
accompanied  by  heavy  thunder  and  vivid  lightning  in  the 
spring  and  hot  months. 

During  the  spring  of  1866  Johnson  county  was  visited 
by  a  terrible  cyclone.  It  entered  the  county  near  what  is 
now  the  present  site  of  West  Vienna  and  crossed  the  county 
to  the  northeast.  It  seemed  to  rise  and  fall  in  its  course 
and  where  it  touched,  it  swept  houses,  barns  and  fences 
from  their  foundation.  It  also  took  its  toll  of  human  life. 
Two  members  of  the  family  of  Jesse  Davis  who  lived  where 
Newton  Murrie  now  lives  were  badly  injured.  In  the  fam- 
ily of  Hirman  Worley,  who  lived  on  what  is  now  known  as 
the  Coleman  place,  one  boy  was  killed  outright,  two  other 
members  died  from  injuries,  and  one  son  was  left  a  cripple 
for  life.  This  was  in  Blomfield  Township.  The  cyclone  lifted 
here  for  a  few  miles,  then  struck  the  homes  of  Joseph  Har- 
per and  John  Jones  who  lived  in  Ozark  township.  It  killed 
a  babe  and  injured  others  of  Mr.  Jones'  family  and  seriously 
injured  some  members  of  Mr.  Harper's  family.  It  not  only 
took  lives  and  laid  waste  homes,  but  giant  forest  trees  were 
taken  up  by  the  roots ;  articles  were  carried  for  miles  in  its 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY  25 

whirling  fury.     Although  its  path  was  not  wide,  it  left 
death  and  desolation  in  its  wake. 

Frosts  come  with  a  good  deal  of  regularity.  The  aver- 
age date  of  the  last  killing  frost  in  the  spring  is  the  middle 
of  April,  the  latest  one  occuring  not  later  than  the  middle 
of  May.  For  fall  the  average  date  is  about  the  middle  of 
October.  The  Ozark  Ridge  renders  fruits  less  liable  to 
killing  frosts  than  in  the  lower  parts  of  the  county.  Slight 
frosts  sufficient  to  tinge  the  leaves  on  the  trees  often  come 
earlier.  With  the  first  turning  of  the  leaves  there  is  pre- 
sented a  scene  of  almost  surpassing  beauty.  First  there  is 
a  tinge  of  yellow,  then  the  reds  appear.  One  tree  will  be 
an  immense  bouquet  of  green,  yellow,  and  red  of  every  con- 
ceivable shade.  Looking  out  from  some  elevation  of  our 
winding  roads  to  a  forest  of  these  trees  all  painted  by  the 
hand  of  nature  forming  a  back  ground  for  a  green  meadow, 
one  will  have  a  picture  never  to  be  forgotten. 

HEALTH 

For  some  time  in  the  early  history  of  the  county,  the 
health  of  the  inhabitants  was  menaced  by  a  mild  form  of 
malarial  fever.  The  heavy  growth  of  timber  which  con- 
stantly decayed  on  the  swamp  land  and  the  pools  of  stagnant 
water  were  the  breeding  places  for  myriads  of  mosquitoes 
that  transmitted  the  malaria  to  all  adjoining  districts.  In 
fact,  it  seemed  for  many  years  that  Johnson  County  was 
the  home  of  malaria  as  well  as  the  wine-sap  apple.  Every 
fall  the  ague  "chills"  was  the  local  name,  appeared  in  due 
time  with  their  "shakes"  and  fever.  The  ague  though  very 
annoying  was  not  necessarily  a  fatal  disease.  But  the  drain- 
ing of  the  swamps  and  the  consequent  elimination  of  rotting 
timber  have  made  this  section  as  healthy  a  place  as  will  be 
found  in  the  state. 

The  winter  of  1918-19  is  more  indelibly  fixed  on  our 
minds  than  the  deep  snow  through  the  terrible  ravages  of 
the  Spanish  Influenza.  This  peculiar  and  unfamiliar  dis- 
ease began  its  drive  on  the  United  States  about  October, 
1918.  At  first  it  was  thought  it  only  thrived  in  the  cities 
and  towns  where  people  came  together  in  crowds.  It  was 
a  little  late  reaching  Johnson  County  and  we  thought,  from 
our  isolation  we  might  be  exempt,  but  in  November  it  fell 
upon  us  in  all  its  fury  and  seemed  to  grow  more  fatal  in  its 


26  A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


progress.  The  situation  in  this  county  was  desperate,  in 
many  places  a  whole  family  was  all  in  bed  at  the  same  time. 
The  fact  that  many  thought  it  contagious  kept  those  who 
were  well  from  giving  their  attention  to  their  neighbors.  In 
some  cases  there  were  none  able  to  care  for  the  dead.  In 
one  known  case  the  sick  and  the  dead  were  in  the  same 
'bed,  and  there  were  many  cases  in  which  nurses  could  not 
be  had.  In  some  families  as  many  as  four  would  die  in  a 
day  or  two  of  each  other.  It  seemed  to  be  particularly  fatal 
to  those  appearing  to  be  the  most  healthful  and  strong  look- 
ing. It  took  many  of  our  best,  physically  speaking,  and 
many  old  people.  This  terrible  scourge  has  returned  each 
winter  for  three  years  but  has  not  proved  so  fatal. 

RESOURCES 

Johnson  County  is  not  a  county  of  wealth,  yet  there 
are  many  farmers  that  are  well  to  do,  really  prosperous. 
Most  all  of  them  live  well  and  the  majority  of  them  live  in 
a  frame  or  brick  dwelling,  have  fine  barns,  the  best  breed 
of  stock,  good  driving  horses,  buggy,  surrey,  or  automobile ; 
many  have  heat,  light,  and  modern  plumbing  in  their  homes. 
Of  course,  every  farmer  does  not  have  all  these  conveniences 
but  he  can  have  them  if  he  wants  them.  In  fact,  any  of  the 
modern  improvements  are  ours  at  will,  except  the  good 
roads  and  we  see  them  coming.  Some  farmers  do  not  want 
anything  modern,  not  even  hard  roads.  One  farmer  gave 
as  an  excuse  for  being  against  the  $60,000,000  bond  issue, 
that  it  would  make  his  farm  worth  so  much  more  and  his 
taxes  would  be  higher.  But  on  the  whole,  this  class  of 
farmers  is  small,  most  of  them  are  progressive,  anxious  to 
know  the  best  methods  and  have  the  best  equipment  in  all 
lines.  The  value  of  the  farm  buildings  in  the  county  accord- 
ing to  the  last  census  was  $1,869,960.  The  value  of  the  land 
and  improvements  excluding  building  from  the  same  source 
was  $6,263,009.  Implements,  machines,  $325,545 ;  live  stock 
$1,698,224;  average  price  of  land  per  acre,  $32.44.  The 
average  size  of  a  farm  in  this  county  in  1840  was  15  acres, 
in  1900,  92  acres.  It  has  now  increased  to  110.8  in  1920. 
The  number  of  farms  in  county,  1920,  1742,  land  in  farms, 
193,077  acres.  Of  course,  much  of  this  land  is  not  improved. 
There  is  a  large  acreage  of  land  in  the  county  not  under 
cultivation  and  very  few  farms  that  do  not  have  their  acre- 
age of  wooded  land  for  pasture  and  fire  wood.    One  writer 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY  27 

said  of  Southern  Illinois  in  1883,  "If  by  magic  Southern 
Illinois  could  be  transfered  just  as  it  is  to  the  northern  or 
central  part  of  the  state  the  land  that  now  sells  for  $10.00 
and  $15.00  per  acre  could  not  be  bought  for  $500.00  an 
acre."  He  further  says  the  reason  land  is  cheap  here  is 
because  its  value  is  not  known  as  people  do  not  travel  across 
this  section  of  the  state  as  they  do  in  Central  and  Northern 
Illinois.  County  farm  lands  sold  in  county  in  1896  for  $25.00 
per  acre. 

This  is  a  community  in  which  the  farmers  own  and 
cultivate  their  own  land,  at  least  75  per  cent  of  the  farms 
are  run  by  the  owners.  They  have  learned  to  rotate  and 
plant  the  crops  most  suited  to  the  soils  and  by  fertilizing, 
keep  their  farms  up  to  the  highest  state  of  productiveness. 
An  experiment  station  has  been  maintained  in  this  county 
by  the  Agricultural  Department  of  the  University  of  Illinois 
for  many  years  which  has  been  a  great  advantage  to  our 
farmers.  There  are  only  16  farms  operated  by  managers 
and  363  operated  by  tenants  as  against  7  by  managers  and 
506  by  tenants  in  1900.  There  is  practically  one  system  of 
renting  here,  the  share  system;  very  few  farms  are  rented 
for  cash. 

Farming  was  at  first  confined  almost  entirely  to  the 
ridges  and  high  lands.  What  is  now  the  most  productive 
land  we  have,  since  it  has  been  cleared,  ditched  and  drained, 
was  till  after  the  sixties,  swamps  and  pools  of  stagnant 
water  during  the  spring  and  early  summer.  This  trans 
formation  has  been  accomplished  through  the  drainage 
system  which  is  explained  under  drainage.  Dennis  Dwyer, 
who  came  to  this  county  from  Ohio  in  1857  was  the  first 
to  ditch,  the  bottom  land  on  a  small  scale,  and  bring  it  under 
cultivation  for  grasses  which  would  thrive  in  low  places. 
He  also  introduced  the  raising  of  Timothy  hay  in  this  sec- 
tion. His  wife,  Aunt  Eliza,  as  she  was  known  and  who 
was  for  many  years  a  resident  here,  brought  the  seed  from 
their  home  state,  when  she  made  a  visit  to  her  mother. 

The  principal  products  of  the  county  are  corn,  wheat, 
oats,  hay,  fruit,  and  vegetables.  The  upland  is  not  well 
adapted  to  corn  and  the  yield  is  not  very  high.  Corn  does 
much  better  on  the  bottoms  and  as  more  of  this  section  is 
being  brought  under  cultivation,  the  corn  yield  increases. 
Some  land  will  grow  as  much  as  ninety  bushels  to  the  acre 


28  A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


while  the  upland  would  not  yield  25,  and  in  a  dry  season 
much  less.  Wheat  is  grown  less  than  in  former  years,  but 
a  great  deal  more  is  grown  than  is  used  in  the  county.  The 
average  yield  is  about  15  to  18  bushels  to  the  acre.  Timothy 
and  clover  are  the  main  hay  crops ;  alfalfa  is  grown  to  seme 
extent ;  cowpeas  are  cut  for  home  use  as  hay ;  oats  are  pro- 
duced for  home  use  only.  The  principal  agricultural  ex- 
ports from  the  county  are  wheat,  corn,  hay,  vegetables,  and 
fruit. 

Being  entirely  an  agricultural  county  and  our  resources 
all  coming  from  agricultural  pursuits,  cattle  raising  is  na- 
turally a  business.  Hereford,  Angus  and  Shorthorn  are 
raised  for  beef.  N.  J.  Mozley  was  a  pioneer  in  the  raising  of 
Heref ords ;  his  herd  having  been  the  best  in  this  section  of 
country  for  many  years.  It  has  furnished  the  beginning  of 
many  herds,  over  all  the  west  and  south ;  has  always  brought 
a  fancy  price  because  of  their  care  and  breeding.  He  has 
probably  taken  more  blue  ribbons  at  county  fairs,  with  his 
herd  than  any  one  in  Southern  Illinois.  J.  K.  Elkins,  D.  W. 
Whittenberg,  Elijah  Ragsdale,  Geo.  Mozley,  Chas.  Trulove, 
and  Chas.  Nobles  also  have  raised  this  breed.  Henry  Cover 
who  lived  at  Tunnel  Hill  owned  about  the  first  herd  of  Angus 
cattle  in  this  county.  J.  M.  Brown,  A.  M.  Webb,  and  Dr. 
A.  E.  McKenzie  also  raise  the  Angus.  The  late  D.  F.  Beau- 
man,  also  of  Tunnel  Hill  Township  introduced  the  breed  of 
Shorthorn  cattle  and  this  was  likely  the  first  herd  of  good 
cattle  in  the  county.  Holstein  and  Jersey  are  dairy  breeds 
of  this  locality.  Wra.  Moore,  J.  C.  Chapman,  A.  Veach  and 
numbers  of  other  dairy  farmers  have  one  or  the  other  of 
these  kinds  of  cattle.  Many  car  loads  of  beef  cattle  are  col- 
lected and  sent  into  market  from  this  county  each  year. 
In  fact  this  has  been  a  paying  enterprise  until  the  decline 
in  the  price  of  cattle  and  other  farm  products  which  has 
caused  many  to  slacken  their  efforts  along  this  line.  The 
raising  of  hogs  is,  one  might  say,  necessarily  a  part  of 
cattle  raising.  The  principal  breeds  are  Chester  Whites, 
Berkshires,  Hampshires.  Duroc  Jersey  and  Poland  China. 
From  200  to  300  car  loads  of  hogs,  possibly  more,  are 
shipped  to  market  from  this  county  in  a  year.  The  raising, 
buying,  and  feeding  of  mules  for  sale  to  the  southern  cotton 
planter  has  been  a  paying  business  in  this  section  for  several 
years  till  within  the  last  few  years  when  the  price  of  mules 
suddenly  dropped,  likewise  the  castles  of  the  mule  dealer. 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY  29 


There  is  not  any  thing  that  will  grow  in  a  temperate 
climate  that  can  not  be  grown  in  Johnson  County.  Our 
soils  are,  of  course,  better  adapted  to  some  crops  than  others 
and  will  produce  them  in  more  paying  quantities.  Flax  was 
raised  in  small  quantities  in  our  very  earliest  history.  Cotton 
and  tobacco  were  grown  extensively  for  some  years  before 
and  after  the  Civil  War.  The  price  of  these  commodities 
during  the  war  made  them  a  very  profitable  crop.  In  1875 
there  were  3,000,000  pounds  of  tobacco  grown  in  this  county 
and  this  was  after  the  decline  in  price  which  finally  resulted 
in  the  exclusion  of  tobacco  and  cotton  from  our  crops.  A 
very  small  quantity  of  tobacco  is  still  grown  for  market  and 
a  little  for  home  use.  From  an  old  contract  between  Bridges 
&  Chapman  D.  Y.  Bridges,  father  of  the  late  Mrs.  Bratton, 
and  F.  J.  Chapman,  son  of  S.  J.  Chapman,  the  pioneer  of 
Vienna,  dated  1852-53,  and  J.  H.  Russell,  who  was  buying 
tobacco  for  Hendenburg  of  St.  Louis,  Russell  agreed  to  pay 
Bridges  &  Chapman  $4.50  per  hundred  for  all  tobacco  prized 
by  them  and  $4.37%  per  hundred  for  what  he  took  without 
prizing.  He  agreed  to  take  75,000  pounds  more  or  less. 
This  gives  an  idea  of  the  value  of  this  weed  as  a  crop  and 
shows  that  it  was  a  staple  product  of  the  county.  Some 
good  cotton  was  grown  here  in  1923  as  an  experiment. 
There  are  prospects  for  it  to  be  again  a  staple  crop  of  this 
county. 

There  is  quite  an  industry  which  has  grown  up  among 
us  in  the  last  fifteen  years,  especially  along  the  Chicago  and 
Eastern  Illinois  railroad,  called  truck  farming.  This  in- 
cludes the  growing  and  the  shipping  of  such  vegetables  as 
tomatoes,  asparagus,  rhubarb,  sweet  potatoes,  cucumbers 
and  cantaloupes.  Another  comparatively  new  resource  in 
this  section  during  the  last  ten  years,  is  the  keeping  of  dairy 
cattle  and  the  shipping  of  their  products.  A  number  of 
cows  of  the  Holstein  breed  have  been  brought  from  Wiscon- 
sin and  New  York  states  and  with  the  Jerseys  already  well 
established  here,  there  is  sent  out  about  5,000  pounds  of 
butter  fat  per  week,  even  at  the  present  price  which  is  not 
nearly  so  high  as  during  the  world  war,  makes  this  a  profit- 
able business  in  more  ways  than  one.  It  brings  a  weekly  or 
monthly  income  of  cash  to  the  farmer,  enriches  the  pastures, 
and  is  adapted  to  lands  that  would  not  produce  grain.  The 
total  receipes  from  sale  of  dairy  products  for  1920  were 
$156,653.     Strawberries,  blackberries,   raspberries,  and  a 


30  A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


few  cherries  are  grown  here.  The  first  named  are  among 
the  by-products  of  the  county  and  are  produced  quite  ex- 
tensively. Our  berry  crops  follow  those  just  south  of  us  and 
ripen  before  the  northern  berry,  making  it  a  very  profitable 
crop  which  seldom  fails.  The  markets  for  the  vegetables 
and  small  fruit  crops  are  Chicago,  Cleveland  and  Indian- 
apolis. In  1897,  there  were  1234  cases  of  strawberries 
snipped  from  Vienna,  although  this  was  not  the  main  ship- 
ping station  for  that  crop.  As  much  as  $500,00  has  been 
realized  in  one  season  from  three  acres  of  ground  planted 
in  strawberries. 

The  raising  of  poultry  for  the  production  of  eggs  is 
also  rather  a  new  industry  for  this  community.  While  all 
farmers  have  always  kept  chickens  for  home  use  and  to 
produce  enough  eggs  to  buy  the  sugar  and  coffee,  no  one 
has  heretofore  made  a  specialty  of  it.  But  now  during  the 
winter  when  the  farmer  does  not  have  so  many  duties  in 
the  field  and  the  price  of  eggs  is  high  he  devotes  his  time 
to  the  care  of  "biddy"  which  usually  pays  him  well.  The 
value  of  chickens  and  eggs  in  1920  was  $1,240,981.  Receipts 
from  sale  of  these  two  products  $130,359.  The  leading 
strains  are  Plymouth  Rock,  Rhode  Island  Red,  Leghorn, 
Buff,  Orphington  and  Langsham. 

Many  people  do  not  appreciate  the  'bird  family  and  look 
on  them  as  pests,  instead  of  an  asset,  although  some  of 
them  do  as  much  harm  as  good,  others  are  very  helpful  to 
farmers  and  horticulturists  as  insect  destroyers.  We  are 
very  fortunate  in  this  county  in  having  so  many  kinds.  Some 
are  prized  for  their  beauty,  others  for  their  music.  Aside 
from  their  economic  value,  the  esthetic  phase  of  the  bird 
family  must  not  be  overlooked.  Most  everyone  enjoys 
watching  birds  as  they  typify  life  in  its  most  active  state  and 
the  songs  and  calls  of  many  of  them  are  a  source  of  pleasure. 
Their  presence  in  great  number  means  an  increase  of  these 
forms  of  enjoyment. 

When  the  first  settlers  came  here,  they  found  the  entire 
surface  of  the  country  covered  with  a  heavy  growth  of  tim- 
ber, the  finest  in  the  Mississippi  valley.  Black  walnut,  hick- 
ory, white  oak,  poplar  and  maple,  now  so  rare  and  highly 
prized,  were  used  for  fence  rails  and  fire  wood.  Beside  those 
mentioned  there  was  found  in  abundance  elm,  locust,  syca- 
more, mulberry,  cottonwood,  pecan,  sassafras,  persimmon, 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY  31 


gum,  cedar,  black  oak  and  along  the  low  swampy  areas  the 
tall  straight  cypress  abounded.  As  fine  logs  of  walnut,  ash, 
oak  and  poplar  as  ever  grew  were  rolled  into  huge  heaps 
and  burned.  In  fact,  the  farmer  looked  upon  the  timber  as 
an  incumbrance  where  he  wanted  a  field.  That  it  would 
be  valuable  later  on  never  occurred  to  him.  Of  course,  in 
later  years  much  fine  timber  of  this  county  was  made  into 
lumber.  The  cutting  and  floating  of  these  logs  down  the 
streams  to  mills  situated  near  the  Illinois  Central  railroad 
was  a  very  lucrative  business  for  many  years.  Only  within 
the  last  ten  years  has  the  timber  'become  so  scarce  as  to 
make  this  source  of  revenue  prohibitive. 

We  have  no  factories  or  mines  like  some  of  our 
neighboring  counties.  While  there  is  surface  coal  in  many 
sections  of  the  county  which  is  worked  for  local  use,  there 
has  never  been  any  mined  for  commercial  purposes  except 
at  Burnside.  There  has  been  a  number  of  attempts  since 
1910  to  discover  oil  in  this  county  but  the  wells  sunk  never 
reached  the  fountain;  although  experts  contend  there  is 
oil  here.  Near  the  village  of  Belknap  there  are  some  tile 
ovens  as  the  clay  in  that  locality  is  suitable  for  this  business. 
The  ovens  are  operated  only  part  of  the  year.  Charcoal  is 
also  manufactured  in  shipping  quantities  at  this  plant. 

Goreville,  a  prosperous  village  in  the  northern  part  of 
our  county,  has  a  cannery.  It  is  owned  and  operated  by 
John  Terry  and  while  it  does  not  boast  of  its  capacity,  it 
is  said  to  store  up  in  tin  the  very  best  quality  of  tomatoes 
and  beans  that  can  be  found.  The  Charles  Stone  Quarry  is 
situated  in  the  southwest  part  of  the  county  on  the  farm 
orginally  owned  by  Pleasant  Axley  at  the  village  of  White 
Hill.  This  community  is  made  up  of  the  employees  of  the 
Quarry  which  is  owned  by  the  Charles  Stone  Company,  most 
of  whom  live  in  Marion,  Illinois.  This  industry  was  estab- 
lished in  1913  and  has  a  capacity  of  7,000  tons  a  day.  They 
manufacture  lime  stone,  for  farms,  chat  for  road  dressing 
and  railroad  ballast.  This  plant  has  been  recently  sold  for 
$225,000  to  the  Robert  Youtzsee  Sand  Company,  of  Chester, 
Illinois. 

The  largest  farm  of  the  county  in  one  body  is  owned 
'by  Charles  Marshall  of  Belknap  township  and  contains 
2,810  acres.  Mrs.  Charles  Mason  of  the  same  township  has 
a  farm  of  1,400  acres.    The  late  A.  M.  Webb  of  Tunnell  Hill 


32  A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


owned  about  1,500  acres;  Chestnut  Hill  farm,  four  miles 
west  of  Vienna,  was  developed  by  James  Brown.  It  con- 
tains 1,050  acres,  is  owned  by  P.  T.  Chapman  and  operated 
by  E.  Mathis. 

Twenty-five  cents  a  day  was  considered  a  good  price 
for  a  farm  hand  in  the  early  history  of  this  section,  but 
when  it  gradually  increased  to  75  cents  before  the  Civil  War, 
the  farmer  thought  it  was  extortion,  almost  as  much  so  as 
the  income  tax  in  this  year  of  1925.  Wages  for  farm  hands 
in  1900  were  $15.00  a  month,  for  a  single  man,  including 
board.  A  man  with  a  family  was  paid  $20.00  and  furnished 
a  house ;  during  the  World  War  wages  reached  the  height  of 
$2.50  a  day  and  board,  from  that  to  $5.00  during  harvest. 
These  prices  have  receded  till  the  present  farm  hands 
receive  on  an  average  of  $1.00  per  day  and  board. 

The  first  organization  that  was  instituted  for  the  bene- 
fit of  the  farmer  was  the  Grange.  For  some  reason  it  did 
not  accomplish  the  purpose  for  which  is  was  organized  and 
soon  was  a  thing  of  the  past.  The  F.  M.  B.  A.,  organized 
1888,  took  up  the  cause  of  the  farmer  and  flourished  here 
for  ten  years  or  more.  Some  prominent  in  the  order  were 
T.  J.  Muray,  J.  W.  Damron,  G.  N.  Thacker,  T.  H.  Verhines, 
R.  R.  Ridenhower,  S.  B.  Robertson  and  Henry  Anderson. 
There  were  about  20  lodges  in  the  county  and  it  appeared  on 
the  surface  to  be  fulfilling  its  mission  to  the  farmer  but  sud- 
denly it  terminated  in  a  political  institution  and  thus  ended 
its  usefulness.  There  have  been  other  and  various  associa- 
tions in  our  midst  for  the  benefit  of  the  farmer:  "Fruit 
Growers,''  "Dairy,"  "Horticulture,"  "Shippers  and  Grow- 
ers," "Breeder,"  and  perhaps  others.  The  one  that  has 
lived  the  longest  and  accomplished  the  most  for  the  farmer 
is  the  "Farmers  Institute,"  organized  in  1900  with  J.  F. 
Buckner  as  president  and  William  Grissom,  secretary.  The 
next  important  step  was  to  organize  a  Farm  Bureau.  This 
was  done  in  1918  with  J.  C.  B.  Heaton,  president;  J.  C.  Chap- 
man, vice-president;  J.  V.  Carter,  secretary;  J.  L.  Veach, 
treasurer.  L.  M.  Smith  was  special  on  fruit;  Guy  Beau- 
man  on  soils;  Charles  Marshal,  live  stock;  William  Moore, 
dairy;  Charles  Truelove,  crops.  O.  M.  McGee  was 
secured  as  Farm  Adviser  for  the  county  and  the  main  in- 
dustries of  our  county  have  been  on  the  up  grade  ever  since 
its  organization.     James  McCall,  a  native  of  this  county, 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY  33 


graduate  of  Oklahoma  Agricultural  and  Medical  College, 
Stillwater,  Oklahoma,  was  our  second  Farm  Advisor,  em- 
ployed 1921.  Our  county  also  boasts  one  unit  of  the  "Home 
Bureau"  under  Williamson  County  supervision.  This  is 
known  as  the  "Ozark  Unit"  and  is  made  up  of  women  prin- 
cipally from  Burnside  Township. 

DRAINAGE 
Cache  River  is  the  most  important  stream  in  Johnson 
County.  It  enters  near  the  center  of  the  western  boundary, 
flows  southeast,  to  the  northern  part  of  Sec.  30,  S.  range  3, 
east  in  Vienna  Township,  where  it  turns  almost  directly 
south,  then  southeast  again,  making  a  large  bend  by  again 
turning  southwest  and  forming  the  southern  boundary  of 
that  portion  of  the  county.  Its  principal  tributaries  are  Lick, 
Dutchman,  and  Little  Cache,  or  Town  Creek,  the  first  of 
which  rises  in  Union  County  and  runs  into  Cache  in  the 
western  part  of  Elvira  Township.  Dutchman  rises  in  Gore- 
ville  Township,  running  in  a  southeast  direction  and  re- 
ceives Little  Cache,  or  Town  Creek,  in  section  seventeen, 
township  thirteen  and  empties  into  Cache  in  section  thirty 
of  the  same  township.  It  is  interesting  to  note  that  the 
description  of  the  east  fork  of  Cache  given  by  J.  M.  Peck  in 
1837  is  practically  correct  for  today.  "This  stream  rises  in 
Tunnel  Hill  Township,  flows  south  and  a  little  west  by 
Vienna  and  into  Dutchman  in  section  seventeen." 

Big  Bay  Creek  rises  in  Johnson  County,  receives  Cedar, 
which  with  the  other  tributaries,  drains  the  eastern  sec- 
tions. The  northern  portion  is  drained  by  the  tributaries 
of  Saline  and  the  northwestern  section,  by  the  streams  that 
flow  into  Big  Muddy  River.  The  streams  that  flow  to  the 
north  have  narrow  valleys  with  little  low  land  along  them. 
Cache  is  naturally  a  slow  and  sluggish  stream.  It  has  carv- 
ed out  a  valley  varying  from  a  quarter  to  two  miles  in 
width.  Along  its  feeding  streams,  also  those  of  Big  Bay, 
lie  large  tracts  of  bottom  land,  which  are  subjected  to  over- 
flow and  have  been  for  many  years  since  the  Ohio  River  re- 
ceded from  them. 

But  in  recent  years  there  have  been  organized  several 
drainage  systems  which  have  for  their  object  the  straight- 
ening of  the  main  streams  and  the  reclaimation  of  large  and 
valuable  tracts  of  land.  Such  improvements  make  these 
localities   much   more   healthful.     The   first   intimation   of 


34  A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


drainage  in  this  county  is  a  record  of  the  appointment  of 
Thomas  Jones  as  "Drainage  Commissioner"  for  the  county 
1852  or  1854,  and  of  his  giving  a  bond  of  $10,000  with  Wes- 
ley Reynolds,  Nathan  Rushing,  Jefferson  Jobe,  William 
Mounce,  D.  Y.  Bridges  and  B.  F.  Hayward  as  security.  This 
appointment,  however,  was  not  made  with  the  view  of  or- 
ganizing a  drainage  system.  When  in  1850,  the  U.  S.  grant- 
ed to  the  several  states  all  the  swamp  land  lying  within 
their  limits  and  in  1852  the  states  in  turn  granted  this  land 
to  the  counties  and  there  were,  consequently  23,087.24  acres 
of  such  land  in  this  county,  there  was  evident  need  for  a 
drainage  commissioner  in  title  at  least.  The  law  said 
"counties  shall  not  dispose  of  more  than  is  necessary  to  com- 
plete the  drainage  except  they  may  apply  the  remainder  to 
roads  and  bridges.  The  counties  land  to  be  under  the  con- 
trol of  the  commissioner." 

As  late  as  the  fifties,  swamp  land  sold  in  this  county  as 
low  as  25  cents  an  acre;  between  1870  and  1880  some  Chi- 
cago capitalist  became  interested  in  swamp  land  in  the 
vicinity  of  Belknap  and  Post  Creek,  but  for  some  reason 
the  scheme  to  drain  it  failed.  Members  of  the  State  Legis- 
lature tried  for  several  sessions  to  get  aid  from  the  state  in 
making  a  survey  to  determine  the  practicability  of  a  drain- 
age system  for  Cache  River.  Trousdale,  of  Massac,  P. 
T.  Chapman,  of  Johnson,  in  the  Senate  and  George  Martin, 
of  Pulaski  tried  in  the  House  at  different  sessions  to  secure 
this  legislation.  It  failed  of  passage  until  the  43rd  General 
Assembly  when  Senator  Helm,  of  Massac  and  C.  M.  Gaunt, 
of  Pulaski  were  successful.  An  appropriation  of  $10,000  for 
a  survey  of  this  territory  was  then  made.  A.  H.  Beli, 
of  Bloomington,  was  employed  as  chief  engineer  and  Wil- 
liam Moyer,  of  Pulaski  County,  as  Assistant. 

Belknap  Drainage  District  was  organized  about  1903. 
It  lies  wholly  within  Johnson  County  and  extends  from  near 
Old  Foreman,  southwest  to  Rago.  It  was,  in  fact,  a  levee 
system  and  protected  about  6,000  acres  of  land.  It  was 
financed  by  issuing  bonds,  and  cost  $40,000.  The  first  Board 
of  Commissioners  was  S.  D.  Peeler,  Charles  Mason  and  W. 
P.  Brown.  The  present  members  are  Charles  Marshall,  D. 
C.  Casper  and  T.  M.  Bean  (1922).  The  system  was  com- 
pleted in  about  two  years  but  the  commissioners  have  since, 
in  conjunction  with   Cache  River  Drainage   System,   con- 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY  35 


structed  Foreman  Flood  Way  and  other  ditches  which  have 
proved  more  satisfactory  for  their  purposes  than  the  levees. 

The  "Cache  River"  drainage  system  is  by  far  the  most 
important  undertaking  of  its  kind  in  this  section  of  the 
country.  Its  territory  includes  portions  of  five  counties, 
Pope,  Massac,  Johnson,  Pulaski  and  Union.  The  commission 
for  the  Cache  River  drainage  system  was  organized  in  the 
spring  of  1911,  after  a  very  pointed  argument  for  the  need 
of  a  drainage  system  had  been  furnished  by  the  high  water 
of  1910.  The  loss  to  Johnson  County  from  this  high  water 
in  crops,  roads,  bridges  and  farm  improvements  amounted 
to  some  $100,000.  The  head  of  this  system  begins  a  little 
more  than  a  quarter  of  a  mile  east  from  the  Big  Four  R.  R. 
in  Township  12,  Sec.  6,  S.  Range  3  east,  of  Johnson  County, 
running  through  sections  six  and  seven  in  a  slightly  south- 
east direction  to  Township  14,  Sec.  13,  S.  Range  2  east  about 
2%  miles  and  is  known  as  the  Foreman  Flood  way,  serving 
both  Belknap  and  Cache  River  systems.  The  main  ditch, 
or  "Cache  River  Cut  off"  begins  in  Pulaski  County  at  the 
mouth  of  Post  Creek,  and  the  course  of  Post  Creek  is 
changed  by  it  in  an  exact  opposite  direction  so  that  it  flows 
out  of  Cache  instead  of  into  it  and  empties  into  the  Ohio 
River  several  miles  above  the  original  mouth  of  Cache. 
Cache  is,  thus  stortened  about  60  miles.  This  ditch  is  a 
little  less  than  five  miles  long,  sixty  seven  feet  deep  at 
different  places  and  350  feet  wide  at  some  points. 

S.  D.  Peeler,  of  this  county,  was  a  member  of  the 
Drainage  Board  for  nine  years  and  was  chairman  of  it  for 
seven.  He  gave  much  time  and  energy  to  this  project,  the 
value  of  which  can  not  yet  be  estimated.  This  drainage  pro- 
ject has  been  financed  in  the  usual  way  at  a  total  cost  of 
$330,000.  When  completed  over  80,000  acres  of  land  will 
be  drained.  The  main  ditch  was  begun  in  1912  and  finished 
in  1916,  but  the  entire  system  is  not  yet  finished,  (1924). 

Vienna  Drainage  District  was  organized  about  1911. 
The  commissioners  were  D.  W.  Whittenberg,  J.  C.  Chap- 
man, O.  H.  Rhodes,  C.  J.  Huffman,  secretary  and  treasurer. 
This  system  has  two  divisions,  the  eastern  one,  beginning  on 
Town  Creek  at  the  bridge  on  the  Bloomfield  road  near  the 
Big  Four  Station,  running  in  a  southwestern  direction  and 
meeting  the  western  section.  The  latter  section  begins  on 
Dutchman,  just  below  where  the  bridge  crosses  that  stream 


36  A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


on  the  West  Vienna  and  Vienna  Road  and  runs  in  a  south- 
east direction.  On  J.  C.  Chapman's  farm,  in  section  7,  the 
east  and  west  branches,  become  one  ditch  to  Ballow  Bridge, 
in  Section  17  on  the  Belknap  and  Vienna  Road,  where  it 
meets  the  main  stream  of  Dutchman.  The  work  of  digging 
this  ditch  was  not  begun  till  1915.  It  was  completed  in  1916 
at  a  cost  of  $25,000.  It  drains  almost  6,000  acres  and  is 
being  paid  for  in  the  usual  manner,  the  taxes  meeting  the 
interest  and  a  portion  of  the  bonds  each  year. 

HORTICULTURE 

Although  the  farmers  of  Johnson  County  since  early 
settlement  have  generally  had  small  orchards  to  supply  fruit 
for  home  use,  the  growing  of  fruit  on  a  commercial  scale 
was  begun  about  twenty-five  years  ago.  The  adaptability  of 
the  Memphis  silt  loam  to  the  production  of  fruit  has  made 
this  one  of  the  most,  if  not  the  most,  important  industry  of 
this  county.  The  most  extensive  orchards  are  in  Burnside 
Township,  but  fruit  growing  is  not  confined  to  this  locality 
entirely.  The  orchard  area  is  spreading  to  all  parts  of 
the  Ozark  Ridge  lying  in  the  county.  A.  G.  Benson,  living 
in  Tunnel  Hill  Township  had,  in  1918,  twenty-six  acres  in 
bearing  trees,  from  which  he  realized  in  cash  $3,300.  An- 
other fruit  grower  in  the  same  township,  Guy  Beauman, 
made  on  his  eighty  acres  of  trees,  $15,000.  The  large 
orchards  are  well  cared  for,  pruned  and  sprayed.  The  ap- 
ples are  usually  sold  on  the  trees,  the  buyer  picking,  barrel- 
ing and  shipping.  Other  orchard  growers  are  F.  B.  Hines, 
R.  F.  Taylor,  Mrs.  Mary  McAvory,  Dr.  W.  R.  Mizell,  Dr. 
LaRue,  John  Underwood,  Gingrich  Bros.,  Norman  Casper, 
Hugh  and  P.  G.  McMahan  and  the  Centralia  Fruit  Farm. 

The  most  extensive  fruit  growers  we  have  in  the  coun- 
ty are  Heaton  Brothers  of  New  Burnside.  They  are  known 
in  all  parts  of  the  United  States  as  apple  growers,  and  have 
blue  ribbons  and  medals  from  all  kinds  of  fairs  and  exposi- 
tions. They  have  been  in  the  business  for  about  thirty-five 
years  and  have  four  hundred  acres  in  trees.  The  early  var- 
ieties they  raise  are  Transparent  and  Duchess;  the  winter 
or  keeping  varieties  are  Winesap,  Ingram  and  Kennard's 
Choice.  The  average  yield  from  an  acre  of  orchard  is 
$100.  The  following  is  quoted  from  the  pioneer  orchardist 
of  the  county : 

"The  first  commerical  orchard  was  planted  in  the  spring 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY  37 


of  1888  by  J.  C.  B.  Heaton.  Southern  Illinois  was  then  a 
dumping  ground  for  tree  peddlers  with  left  over  nursery 
stock.  Mr.  Heaton  went  into  the  nursery  business  for  a 
time  that  he  might  get  trees  true  to  name,  and  with  a  hope 
that  he  might  be  able  to  direct  an  industry  that  would  raise 
his  neighbors  from  a  state  of  semi-poverty  to  affluence  and 
independence.  Seeing  that  nursery  men  and  orchardists 
were  everywhere  giving  their  efforts  to  growing  fall  and 
winter  apples  and  that  there  was  an  increasing  demand  for 
early  apples,  which  no  section  was  yet  making  an  effort  to 
supply,  he  began  growing  and  planting  early  varieties. 
While  he  was  considered  visionary  at  the  time  by  many  peo- 
ple, there  were  a  few  who  were  willing  to  risk  his  judgment 
and  followed  his  example  in  planting  early  varieties.  Those 
who  gave  attention  to  their  orchards  and  brought  them  into 
bearing,  reaped  such  a  valuable  harvest  as  to  cause  their 
neighbors  to  sit  up  and  take  notice.  It  was  not  long  until 
everybody  wanted  an  orchard  of  early  apples,  and  went  at 
it  in  earnest." 

From  a  few  local  shipments  in  1895  the  industry  grew 
to  more  than  150  car  loads  in  1920.  During  all  this  period 
there  has  been  no  year  that  a  well  cared-for  orchard  has 
failed  to  pay  expenses.  There  has  been  no  such  thing  as 
a  total  failure  and  probably  never  will  be.  It  is  admitted 
by  our  State  Horticultural  Department  that  no  section  of 
the  state  gives  better  care  to  the  orchards  than  the  New 
Burnside  section.  The  United  States  apple  census  in  the 
June  report  of  1918  says  that  Johnson  and  Union  Counties 
have  the  largest  early  apple  industry  in  the  United  States. 
Mr.  Heaton  also  says,  "The  New  Burnside  vicinity  will 
double  its  output  within  five  years,  trebble  it  in  eight  years, 
and  quadruple  it  in  twelve  years  at  the  present  rate  of 
planting.  Good  orchard  land  easily  accessible  to  New  Burn- 
side, the  shipping  point,  can  be  bought  for  $30.00  to  $60.00 
an  acre.  But  good  orchards  in  bearing,  readily  sell  for  $300 
to  $400  an  acre.  These  prices  are  not  based  on  estimates, 
but  actual  sales.  Apples  grown  near  New  Burnside  captur- 
ed a  gold  medal  at  Louisiana  Purchase  exposition;  also  at 
St.  Louis  in  1903,  a  silver  loving  cup  at  the  State  Horticul- 
tural Show,  and  many  minor  premiums.  In  fact,  Heaton 
Bros.'  apples  exhibited  anywhere  have  never  failed  to  get 
their  portion  of  premiums.  While  this  is  one  of  the  small- 
est counties  in  population,  it  is  a  pleasure  to  note  that  two 


38  A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTS 


thirds  of  all  her  land  is  as  well  suited  to  the  production  of 
early  apples  as  the  section  of  New  Burnside.  There  is  no 
place  in  the  United  States  that  offers  better  opportunities 
for  a  young  family  to  grow  themselves  into  a  fat  living  than 
Johnson  County.  The  current  expression  "Go  West  and 
grow  up  with  the  country"  might  well  be  applied  here  to 
read  "Go  to  Johnson  County  and  grow  up  with  an  orchard 
of  early  apples  and  live  on  the  fat  of  the  land." 

A  former  resident  of  New  Burnside  Township  writes 
a  little  history  of  a  farm  he  knew  in  his  boyhood  days  which 
he  says,  could  not  be  given  away,  but  which  really  would 
have  sold  high  at  $20  per  acre  owing  to  the  rocks  and  pov- 
erty of  the  soil.  This  farm  has  been  planted  in  orchard  and 
sold  in  1922  for  $500  an  acre.  This  fact  substantiates  the 
assertions  of  Mr.  Heaton  in  his  contribution  to  this  subject. 
Ozark  has  recently  built  a  packing  house  for  the  benefit  of 
the  Cooperative  Fruit  Growers  of  that  section  which  is  the 
first  of  its  kind  in  the  county.  There  are  few  peaches  grown 
in  this  county  for  market  although  they  are  a  most  profit- 
able crop  when  they  withstand  the  late  frosts.  This  crop  is 
so  frequently  destroyed  that  there  are  no  large  orchards 
planted  in  this  section.  Chapman  &  Hooker  took  a  first 
prize  on  Elberta  peaches  at  the  Buffalo  Exposition,  New 
York,  1901,  which  proves  that  the  best  peaches  can  be  pro- 
duced in  this  locality.  The  number  of  acres  of  commercial 
orchard  in  this  county  in  1922  was  at  least  6,000. 


CLARK'S  TRAIL 


PART  II 

Parish,  an  early  historian  of  Illinois  says,  "In  1792  M. 
Juchereau  with  30  Canadians  and  Father  Jean  Mermet  left 
Kaskaskia  to  form  a  French  settlement  and  to  build  a  fort 
on  the  Ohio  River.  He  erected  a  palisade,  a  cabin  or  two, 
and  a  store  house.  His  purpose  was  ostensibly  trading. 
Mermet  established  a  mission  nearby  and  called  it  Assump- 
tion. This  place  was  deserted  a  few  years  after  on  account 
of  trouble  with  the  Indians  and  if  it  was  named,  all  records 
have  been  lost."  Other  historians  tell  us  it  was  occupied  by 
traders  in  1710  and  1711,  but  remained  unimportant  till 
1756.  During  the  French  and  Indian  War  the  French  in 
retreat  under  Aubrey  landed  here,  threw  up  earth  works 
and  erected  a  stockade  with  four  bastions  furnished  with 
eight  cannons  and  quarters  for  a  hundred  men.  From  that 
date  it  has  been  known  as  Fort  Massac.  The  origin  of  its 
name  is  no  more  certain  than  its  other  early  history.  It 
was  ceded  to  the  British  in  1783,  but  they  never  occupied  it 
with  troops,  which  made  it  easy  for  Clark  to  enter  the  Illi- 
nois country. 

Fort  Massac  is  not  now  in  Johnson  County,  but  it  was 
at  one  time  and  the  history  of  any  place  in  Southern  Illinois 
can  scarcely  be  written  without  mentioning  this  old  land- 
mark. This  fort  was  built  by  the  French  sometime  in  1700, 
as  a  trading  post  and  mission.  Later  a  fort  was  construct- 
ed here  forming  one  of  the  chain  built  by  the  French  to  be 
used  in  the  defence  of  their  claim  to  this  part  of  the  country 
known  as  the  Northwest  Territory.  It  was  occupied  by  the 
French  at  different  times  and  garrisoned  by  the  U.  S.  in 
1794.  Victor  Collet,  a  Frenchman  tells  us  in  his  notes  "On 
a  Journey  in  North  America,"  that  Captain  Pike  was  com- 
mandant of  Fort  Massac  in  1796.  His  garrison  consisted 
of  one  hundred  men  and  the  batteries  were  mounted  with 
twelve  pieces.  Near  the  fort  were  seven  or  eight  houses  or 
huts  inhabited  by  Canadians.  From  its  isolation  Fort  Mas- 
sac was  sometimes  the  rendezvous  of  conspirators;  here 
Genet,  Powers,  Wilkinson,  the  famous  Aaron  Burr  with 
Blenerhasset,  plotted  wild  schemes  against  this  government, 


40  A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


just  what  was  never  known.  Here,  no  doubt  floated  the 
first  American  flag  in  this  state  which  the  valiant  General 
George  Rogers  Clark  brought  with  him  on  his  journey  of 
conquest,  if  he  possessed  one,  if  not,  he  carried  the  salute  in 
his  loyal  heart.  At  least  here  he  touched  soil,  camped  and 
began  his  victorious  march  across  Illinois.  There  has  been 
some  contention  as  to  which  route  or  trail  General  Clark 
took  from  this  ancient  fort  to  Kaskaskia.  There  seems  to 
have  been  three  known  routes  between  these  two  places  in 
1778;  number  one  lead  from  Fort  Massac  east  and  north 
to  avoid  the  swamps,  into  Pope  County;  then  turned  west- 
ward past  what  is  now  Allen  Springs  entering  Johnson 
County  about  two  or  three  miles  from  Double  Bridges  and 
north  of  the  site  of  Simpson,  passed  through  Moccasin  Gap, 
Sec.  3  township  12,  range  4  east,  Reynoldsburg,  Sec.  33, 
township  11,  range  4  E,  Ezekiel  Choat's,  Sec.  30,  township 
11,  range  4  east,  Charles  Burton's  place  near  Parker,  Salem 
Church  then  to  Sulphur  Springs  about  a  mile  southwest  of 
Creal  Springs  and  on  into  Williamson  County,  through  old 
Bainbridge  and  out  into  the  prairie  country. 

The  second  route  circled  Massac  Lakes  to  the  westward 
cutting  in  between  them  and  the  canyons  of  Cache  River, 
entering  Johnson  County  near  what  is  known  as  Indian 
Point,  then  running  north  of  northwest  crossing  Dutchman 
Creek  a  short  distance  above  Forman  then  up  the  east  side 
of  Cache  crossing  the  Ozarks  through  the  Buffalo  Gap. 
Johnson  County  on  into  Williamson  meeting  the  upper  trail 
at  old  Bainbridge.  It  is  not  necessary  to  describe  the  third 
route  because  it  could  be  used  only  in  the  dry  weather. 

Since  Clark's  expedition  was  in  the  early  summer  it  is 
hardly  probable  that  he  would  have  taken  the  third  route. 

The  evidence  gathered  from  Clark's  correspondence  is 
in  favor  of  the  second  route ;  he  says  "on  the  third  day  out 
we  reached  prairie."  This  would  have  been  impossible 
owing  to  the  distance  on  the  first  route.  He  further  says 
they  were  very  much  afraid  of  being  discovered,  another 
reason  why  they  would  take  the  least  traveled  or  second 
route.  He  ordered  his  guide  to  find  Kaskaskia  trace  when 
they  thought  they  were  lost,  which  would  not  have  happen- 
ed had  they  been  on  the  original  trace  or  the  one  known  as 
route  one.  It  had  been  marked  by  the  French  and  was,  no 
doubt,  easily  followed.  A  U.  S.  Survey  notes  an  Indian  trail 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY  41 


which  is  described  in  "Roads."  This  central  route  was 
probably  the  same  as  this  survey  and  shorter  by  seventy- 
five  miles,  another  reason  Clark  would  select  it.  The  Daniel 
Chapman  Chapter  Daughters  of  the  American  Revolution 
of  V  ienna  were  so  thoroughly  convinced  from  these  reasons 
and  Draper's  manuscripts  of  Clark's  Memoirs,  1791  in  the 
State  Historical  Society  of  Wisconsin,  also  from  authority 
of  Hurlburt  in  his  history  of  this  route,  that  this  was  the 
route  Clark  traveled  on  his  historic  journey,  that  they 
marked  it  with  four  markers  of  stone  set  in  concrete  bases 
with  suitable  inscriptions  in  1913.  One  of  these  is  located 
at  Indian  Point  on  the  right  of  way  of  the  Chicago,  Burling- 
ton and  Quincy  Railroad,  just  inside  the  Johnson  County 
line,  and  where  the  state  hard  road  crosses  into  Massac 
County.  This  was  Clark's  first  camp  out  of  Fort  Massac. 
These  trails  always  followed  the  ridges  and  passed  near 
water,  consequently  they  placed  one  on  the  West  Vienna 
road  near  a  spring  two  and  one-half  miles  west  of  Vienna 
about  where  the  trail  would  naturally  cross  the  present 
road.  Clark's  men,  no  doubt,  tramped  on  up  the  ridge  to- 
ward Goreville  through  Buffalo  Gap  where  there  is  a  break 
in  the  range  of  hills.  The  third  marker  was  placed  here 
by  the  permission  of  the  Chicago  and  Eastern  Illinois  Rail- 
road, this  being  an  old  crossing  used  by  the  native  buffalo, 
and  made  by  nature.  The  fourth  was  placed  on  the  Vienna 
and  Marion  road  at  the  Pink  Thornton  Farm  as  the  spring 
where  they  most  likely  camped  the  second  night  out  of  Fort 
Massac  is  just  off  the  road,  about  three-fourth  of  a  mile, 
near  the  present  site  of  Pully's  Mill  and  only  a  short  dis- 
tance from  where  the  stone  is  located.  The  Egyptian  Press, 
a  local  paper  of  Marion,  Illinois,  describes  the  marker  as 
follows :  "On  his  second  night  out  from  Fort  Massac,  Gen- 
eral Clark  and  his  men  camped  at  a  spring  which  is  located 
near  the  Thornton  home,  two  miles  north  of  Goreville  on 
the  Marion  and  Goreville  road.  Here  is  now  to  be  seen  one 
of  the  monuments  but  recently  located  by  the  Daughters  of 
the  American  Revolution.  This  monument  is  a  granite 
marker  standing  above  its  heavy  solid  concrete  base  about 
two  feet.  It  has  a  beveled  and  polished  face  measuring 
about  18  by  24  inches  and  bears  the  following  inscription : 
'Second  Camp  of  General  George  Rogers  Clark,  on  his 
March  from  Fort  Massac  to  Fort  Kaskaskia,  1778.  Erect- 
ed 1913  by  Daniel  Chapman,  Chapter  D.  A.  R.'  " 


42  A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


ROADS 

Our  first  roads  were  trails  made  by  the  Indians.  Rey- 
nolds tells  us  that  in  1800  the  old  road  leading  from  Ft.  Mas- 
sac to  Kaskaskia  was  plainly  marked,  the  number  of  miles 
having  been  cut  or  burned  on  trees  and  painted  red.  Just 
how  long  this  road  or  trail  has  been  in  existence,  we  have 
no  way  of  telling.  We  know,  however,  that  it  was  laid  out 
when  Fort  Massac  and  Assumption  were  built,  which  time 
varies  from  1702  to  1711.  Thus  our  first  road  was  con- 
structed early  in  the  18th  century  as  Fort  Massac  had  been 
a  depot  for  emigrants  from  almost  the  beginning.  Rey- 
nolds says,  "from  time  immemorial."  These  emigrants  had 
floated  down  the  Ohio  River  on  rafts  and  settled  in  southern 
Illinois.  This  road  after  leaving  Fort  Massac  made  a  great 
curve  to  the  north  into  Pope  County  to  avoid  the  swamps 
of  Cache  and  Big  Bay,  entering  Johnson  County  about  sec- 
tion 13,  township  12,  range  4  east,  thence  through  Moccasin 
Gap,  section  3,  township  12,  range  4  east,  thence  through 
Reynoldsburg,  section  33,  township  11,  range  4  east,  on  to 
the  northwest  by  or  near  Parker  City  leaving  the  county 
about  a  mile  southwest  of  Creal  Springs  at  or  near  Sulphur 
Springs  going  into  Williamson  County,  passing  Ward's  Mill, 
Old  Bainbridge  and  on  into  Jackson  County.  This  was, 
without  doubt,  our  first  road  though  possibly  not  much 
more  than  a  trace  in  1800  as  most  of  the  travel  was  by  foot 
or  horseback.  Reynolds  says  there  was  not  a  single  house 
on  the  road  from  Hull's  landing,  a  few  miles  above  Fort 
Massac,  on  the  Ohio  to  Kaskaskia  in  1800.  Good  roads 
were  just  as  necessary  to  civilization  in  the  early  day  as 
now  and  among  the  first  things  that  the  county  court  did 
after  its  organization  was  to  begin  laying  out  roads.  Sep- 
tember 13,  1813,  the  court  having  taken  into  consideration 
the  necessity,  ordered  Issac  D.  Wilcox  to  open  a  road  from 
Massac  the  nearest  and  best  way  to  William  Style's  in 
Center  Township,  and  to  make  or  cause  the  same  to  be 
made  passable  for  carriages;  that  Moses  Evans,  Joseph 
Eubanks  and  Wm.  Styles  be  appointed  to  view  the  road. 
Joseph  Eubank's  estate  was  settled  in  Massac  Township  in- 
dicating he  lived  in  what  is  now  that  county.  No  doubt, 
some  part  of  this  road  is  in  use  as  the  road  from  Vienna  to 
Metropolis  at  the  present  time.  The  second  highway  we 
have  a  record  of  is  where  Ezekiel  Wells,  Thomas  Green  and 
Solamon  Penrod  were  appointed  to  view  a  road  from  Earth- 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY  43 


man's  ferry,  which  was  on  the  Mississippi  River.  The 
terminus  of  this  road  is  not  given,  but  doubtless  was  Elvira 
in  which  case  it  would  cross  the  present  Union  County. 
This  order  was  made  sometime  in  the  year  1813.  January 
1814,  the  court  ordered  that  all  the  inhabitants  for  eight 
miles  on  either  side  of  this  road  from  Earthman's  ferry 
should  work  this  road.  January  12,  1814,  a  petition  was 
presented  to  the  court  for  a  road  from  "Col.  Furguson's 
opposite  the  mouth  of  Cumberland  River,  in  what  is  now 
Pope  County,  to  Cape  Girardeau;  the  present  mail  route." 
This  was  a  long  route  extending  from  one  river  to  the  other 
and,  no  doubt,  left  Vienna  to  the  north.  "Green's  old  ferry 
road  passed  through  Vienna.  Reynolds  says  there  was  an 
old  road  from  Massac  to  Cape  Girardeau."  Tradition  call- 
ed it  a  military  road.  Levi  Graham,  William  Lawrence 
and  Abraham  Price  were  to  have  charge  of  the  road  from 
Cache  to  Cape  Girardeau  and  John  Pritchard,  James  Tits- 
worth  and  John  P.  Givens  were  to  have  charge  from  Col. 
Furguson's  to  Cache.  Wm.  Lawrence  had  a  mill  and  a 
still  on  Cache  and  from  the  best  evidence  to.  be  obtained 
he  lived  in  the  extreme  southeast  corner  of  the  present 
Union  County  or  perhaps,  just  over  in  Pulaski.  W.  N. 
Moyers,  County  Superintendent  of  Highways  of  Pulaski 
County  describes  the  two  crossings  or  trails  from  one  river 
to  the  other  made  first,  by  the  Indians  and  later  used  by  the 
new  settlers  as  follows :  One  of  the  trails  from  Fort  Mas- 
sac west,  followed  down  the  Ohio  River  beyond  old  Fort 
Wilkinson  and  the  head  of  the  Grand  Chain,  thence  west  to 
the  present  site  of  Levings,  thence  north  by  west  to  Cache 
River  about  the  corner  of  Sec.  16,  17,  20  and  21,  Township 
14,  S.,  R.  I.  East.  This  is  the  first  point  at  which  the  high 
lands  reach  the  bank  of  that  stream  after  leaving  the  Strat- 
ton  Bridge  site.  The  other  route  reached  Cache  about  where 
the  Black  Slough  empties  into  it.  If  Cache  was  high,  the 
traveler  went  up  the  slough  a  short  distance  where  it  could 
be  forded  and  skirted  the  scatters  of  Cache  to  Indian  Point 
where  the  trail  followed  the  ridge  in  a  northwest  direction 
and  the  one,  no  doubt,  used  by  Gen.  George  Rogers  Clark. 
An  old  United  States  Survey  says  that  an  old  trail  skirted 
the  north  banks  of  Cache  basin  near  the  east  end.  The 
Vienna  and  Metropolis  road  crosses  it  in  Township  14, 
range  4  east  near  the  center  of  the  range.  Grand  Chain 
and  Belknap  road  crosses  it  in  R.  2  east,  township  14.  These 
old  trails  were,  no  doubt,  referred  to  as  roads  in  the  early 


44  A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 

days  of  Johnson  County's  organization.  At  the  May  term 
of  court  in  the  year  1815  the  people  petitioned  for  a  road 
from  Elvira  to  intersect  the  road  from  Furguson's  to  Cape 
Girardeau  at  Cache  Post  Office  (The  United  States  Post 
Master  General's  Office  says,  "there  was  never  a  post  office 
by  that  name  until  recent  years  there  was  one  established 
in  Alexander  County").  The  above  road  order  was  taken 
from  the  county  records.  In  1815,  the  court  ordered  that 
Robert  Lott  and  William  Thornton  be  appointed  to  view  a 
road  the  nearest  and  best  route  from  Johnson  Court  House 
to  William  Lawrence's  mill.  At  the  same  session,  1815, 
George  Smiley,  Joseph  Palmer,  and  Henry  Earthman  were 
ordered  to  lay  out  a  road  from  Elvira  to  Earthman's  ferry 
on  the  Mississippi  to  be  governed  as  far  as  possible  by  the 
township  line  between  townships  11  and  12.  About  this 
time  William  Simpson  and  John  Robinson  are  allowed  to 
establish  a  ferry  on  the  Mississippi,  below  the  mouth  of 
Apple  Creek,  and  to  it  they  must  have  a  road.  Giles  Pal- 
merly,  Jacob  Craft,  Thomas  C.  Patterson  and  Andrew 
Cochran  were  appointed  to  lay  out  said  road.  Joshua  Davis, 
William  Simpson,  Thomas  C.  Patterson  and  John  Byers 
were  given  the  task  of  laying  out  a  road  from  Johnson  Court 
House  (Elvira)  to  Big  Muddy  so  as  to  meet  the  road  from 
Kaskaskia  to  Muddy.  A  petition  was  presented  in  1815  by 
the  inhabitants  to  have  the  road  leading  from  Johnson 
Court  House  to  Furguson's  ferry  viewed  and  opened.  John 
Reed,  who  served  as  commissioner  in  Pope  County  in  1825 
and  must  have  lived  near  the  present  Johnson  County  line, 
judging  from  another  road  ordered,  Jacob  Littleton  and 
James  Whiteside  were  viewers  of  this  road.  This  was  lat- 
er known  as  the  old  Golconda  and  Jonesboro  road.  It  ran 
through  Bloomfield  Township  across  the  farms  of  Joseph 
Plater,  Mrs.  Davis,  John  Veach  and  Gus  Casper  and  cross- 
ed Dutchman  where  the  second  site  for  a  county  seat  was 
selected.  This  road  also  passed  through  Simpson,  by  Pleas- 
ant Ridge  church  house,  crossed  the  old  Marion  road  near 
the  John  Veach  place  and  merged  with  the  present  Bun- 
combe road  near  the  Soper  farm.  At  a  court  held  in  181(5 
Levi  Graham,  Absalom  Lankston  were  appointed  to  view 
a  road  from  Smith's  ferry  on  the  Mississippi  to  Wm.  Law- 
rence's mill  on  Cache.  John  Bowman  was  to  open  a  road 
from  Johnson  Court  House  toward  Furguson's  ferry  as 
far  as  McFatridges.     In  1817  Peter  Clark,  Henry  Sams  and 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY  45 


Benjamin  F.  Clark  were  appointed  to  view  a  road  already 
established  to  Hay's  ferry  from  Elvira  till  it  intersected 
the  road  leading  from  Dutchman  settlement,  which  was 
about  two  miles  southwest  of  Jonesboro  and  at  that  time  in 
Johnson  County,  to  Brownsville,  a  town  on  the  north  bank 
of  Big  Muddy  River  and  the  first  county  seat  of  Jackson 
County,  by  way  of  Patterson's,  who  lived  in  what  was 
afterward  Rich  Precinct,  Union  County,  "Peter  Clark  is 
made  supervisor  of  that  part  of  the  road,  from  Elvira  to 
Brownsville,  from  his  home  to  where  the  road  intersects 
the  road  leading  from  the  Dutch  settlement.  "The  same 
year  John  Weldon,  John  Robinson  and  John  Tweedy  were 
ordered  to  lay  out  a  road  from  Earthman's  ferry  on  the 
Mississippi  to  intersect  Greens  road,  near  Tweedy's  Mill." 
Another  road  built  about  this  time  was  from  Johnson  Court 
House  to  Gallaher's  old  place  on  the  Mississippi,  below 
Green's  ferry,  John  Bradshaw,  John  Grammar  and  Joseph 
Palmer,  all  were  residents  of  Union  at  its  organization,  are 
viewers  of  this  road.  The  description  of  the  road  is  as 
follows:  "Beginning  at  the  court  house  and  running  by 
William  Townsen's  farm  thence  near  to  John  Bradshaw's, 
leaving  his  house  to  the  left,  crossing  Big  Creek  at  the 
mouth  of  Wallace's  branch,  thence  passing  along  between 
the  plantations  of  John  Grammar,  and  Sophronus  Standles, 
thence  by  John  Whitekers  and  thence  to  Gallaher's  old  place 
on  the  Mississippi,  all  of  which  we  have  marked,"  signed 
John  Grammar,  John  Bradshaw,  David  Vance,  David 
Arnold."  Report  on  road  leading  to  Robinson  and  Simp- 
son's ferry  on  the  Mississippi.  "To-wit :  Beginning  at  the 
court  house  thence  agreeably  to  the  way  newly  marked  out 
to  Thomas  C.  Patterson's  and  through  his  land,  thence  to 
Tripp's  thence  to  the  old  Indian  trail,  where  it  crosses 
Drury's  Creek  thence  to  Palmer's,  thence  passing  the  widow 
Craft's  and  leaving  her  home  to  the  right  from  there  to 
Earthman's  ferry."  (Formerly  Robinson  and  Simpson's 
ferry) .  This  report  was  given  in  1815  and  Giles  Parmerly 
was  appointed  supervisor  at  this  same  court.  The  commis- 
sion appointed  to  lay  out  the  road  to  Muddy,  having  failed 
to  act  T.  C.  Patterson,  William  Simpson,  William  H.  and 
Josuha  Davis  were  appointed  instead. 

The  roads  up  to  this  time  most  all  seemed  to  be  in  the 
direction  of  the  Mississippi  River,  but  when  Union  was 
organized  and  the  county  seat  changed,  the  roads  began 


46  A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 

their  trend  in  other  direction.  At  the  July  court,  1818, 
William  McNorton,  John  Copeland  and  John  W.  Gore  were 
appointed  viewers  of  a  road  the  nearest  and  best  route,  from 
the  new  seat  of  justice  toward  Jonesboro,  as  far  as  the 
county  line."  This  is,  in  part  at  least,  the  present  Anna 
ana  Vienna  road  having  been  laid  out  a  little  more  than  a 
hundred  years  ago.  imagine,  if  you  can,  the  work  and 
money  that  has  been  spent  on  this  road  in  the  past  one 
hundred  years.  If  they  had  built  less  than  one  quarter  of 
a  mile  each  year  we  would  now  have  a  good  road  to  our 
neighboring  city.  Perhaps  these  pioneers  were  excusable, 
although  the  Appian  way  had  been  constiucted  before  the 
Christian  era,  but  the  present  day  citizens  are  not  excusable 
as  they  know  all  about  hard  roads,  how  to  build  them  and 
have  plenty  of  material  at  hand  in  this  county.  Yet  the 
process  of  wasting  money  on  roads  continues  in  this  sec- 
tion. "Adam  Harvick,  Joel  Johnson  and  John  Grisham  are 
appointed  at  this  same  court,  1818,  to  view  a  road  from  the 
new  seat  of  justice  to  Golconda,  as  far  as  the  county  line 
of  Pope."  All  persons  living  north  of  the  road  to  within 
one  half  mile  of  the  old  Elvira  and  Jonesboro  road  and  all 
living  south  within  five  miles  of  said  road  shall  work  this 
road."  September,  1819,  the  court  ordered  that  Richard 
McGinnin,  who  lived  at  Pleasant  Grove,  the  present  home 
of  Willis  Elkins,  Millington  Smith,  whose  home  was  on 
the  present  farm  of  Stanley  Beggs,  and  James  Jones,  who 
lived  on  the  farm  now  divided  and  owned  by  Fred  Shetler 
and  John  M.  Brown,  be  appointed  to  view  the  nearest  and 
best  practicable  route  for  a  road  from  John  Gore's  planta- 
tion, so  as  to  meet  the  road  lately  laid  out  from  Vienna  to 
Jonesboro  at  the  county  line.  "This  road  began  at  John 
W.  Gore's  thence  by  George  Brazell's  mill  to  Jane  Lizenby's, 
thence  along  the  ridge  leading  down  Cache  River  to  the 
same,  thence  on  a  ridge  to  William  Russell's  farm  leav- 
ing the  same  on  the  left,  thence  the  safest  and  best  route 
to  meet  said  road  from  Vienna  to  Jonesboro.  The  mean- 
ing is  a  little  obscure  as  there  had  been  a  commission  the 
year  before  to  lay  out  a  road  from  Vienna  to  Jonesboro,  but 
it  is  possible  they  did  not  complete  it  farther  than  John 
W.  Gore's,  another  theory  is  that  the  first  Vienna  and 
Jonesboro  road  led  south  and  then  west  instead  of  the  pres- 
ent direction  owing  to  the  high  water  directly  west  of  us. 
The  road  leading  from  Vienna  south  to  Caledonia,  Mound 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY  47 


City  and  Cairo  and  passing  Indian  Point  was  laid  out  in 
1821.  In  1824,  John  Copeland  and  John  S.  Cooper  reported 
on  a  road  to  Wilcox's  warehouse,  which  was  on  the  Ohio 
River  in  section  7,  township  15,  range  3  east.  A  Mrs. 
Riley  owns  the  farm  on  which  this  warehouse  and  landing 
was  located.  It  was  first  called  Copeland's  landing.  James 
Copeland  operated  a  ferry  there  about  1824.  It  was  later 
called  Mabery  landing.  Tradition  says  most  of  the  roads 
leading  from  the  north  came  to  this  landing.  It  was  on 
what  is  now  the  county  line  between  Massac  and  Pulaski 
Counties,  almost  directly  south  of  Vienna  and  doubtless 
the  port  from  where  our  imports  came  and  our  exports 
were  shipped.  At  this  time  Johnson  County  had  a  road 
leading  out  in  every  direction  to  the  neighboring  towns 
and,  no  doubt,  many  settlement  roads.  In  1819,  David 
Elms  was  appointed  supervisor  of  the  old  Golconda  and 
Jonesboro  road,  from  the  corner  of  his  farm,  this  farm  now 
owned  by  J.  H.  Taylor  and  J.  R.  Hill,  to  Pope  County  line; 
Squire  Choat  from  the  same  corner  east  to  Bloomfielcl 
Township  line;  Alexander  McGowan  from  there  to  Dutch- 
man Lick  (No  knowledge  of  Dutchman  Lick  possibly  it  is 
what  is  now  Lick  Creek.)  from  Dutchman  Lick  to  Union 
County  line.  William  Gothard  was  appointed.  These 
supervisors  must  have  lived  on  or  near  the  sections  of  road 
to  which  they  were  assigned.  Stanton  Simpson  was  ap- 
pointed supervisor,  for  the  new  road,  from  Vienna  toward 
Golconda  as  far  as  the  Pope  County  line  1824.  In  1820 
it  was  ordered  that :  "James  Bain,  Lewis  Simpson  and  Levi 
Casey  be  appointed  to  view  a  route  from  Vienna  to  Saline 
Lick  and  that  Milton  Ladd  be  appointed  to  survey  it."  The 
following  men  were  designated  to  work  this  road  that  ran 
toward  Saline  Lick,  passing  Lewis  D.  Simpson's  which 
was  the  present  Simpson  road,  William  Simpson,  Sr.,  Levi 
Casey,  Jacob  Cannady,  Ishmael  Veach,  Joseph  McCorcle, 
William  Hendry,  Robert  Little,  James  Copeland,  Ivy  Rey- 
nolds, Benj.  Carroll,  G.  Morris,  Irvin  Morris,  William 
Huckam,  Francis  Geehen,  James  Bain,  Henry  Adams,  Mar- 
tin Harvick,  David  Elms,  Reuben  Wright,  William  S. 
Cooley,  George  Giles,  Squire  Choat,  Benjamin  Bowman, 
William  Abraham  and  Noah  Shelby,  Willis  Simpson,  and 
John  Fisher.  The  supervisors  were  allowed  $1.00  per  day 
for  summoning  hands  to  work  the  road,  in  1823.  For 
December,  1821,  Joseph  McCorcle,  James  Jones  and  Mathew 


48  A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 

Mathis  were  appointed  by  the  court  to  view  and  mark  out 
the  nearest  and  best  route  for  a  road  from  Vienna  toward 
the  Saline  so  as  to  intersect  the  road  leading  past  Lewis 
Simpson's. 

Hezekiah  West,  Thomas  Standard  and  Moses  Cochran 
were  appointed  to  view  the  nearest  and  best  practicable 
route  for  a  road  from  Vienna  to  Wilcox's  ferry  on  the  Ohio 
River,  so  as  to  intersect  the  county  line  between  Johnson 
and  Union  Counties  near  Concord  meeting-  house.  1821 
Joel  Johnson,  Levi  Casey  and  Lewis  Simpson  were  appoint- 
ed to  view  a  road  from  Vienna  to  meet  the  road  from  Elvira 
to  Saline  Lick.  In  1821,  Abraham  Hendry,  Jesse  Canady 
and  Martin  Harvick  were  designated  to  view  a  road  from 
Vienna  to  cross  the  creek  below  Joseph  McCorcle's  tan 
yard,  which  was  about  where  Joseph  McDaniel's  house 
stands  at  present,  on  east  main  street,  proceeding  from 
there  so  as  to  intersect  the  Massac  road  at  or  near  a  place 
called  Indian  Mounts,  this  side  of  the  bridge  on  what  is 
called  Black  Slough.  Indian  Mounts,  was,  no  doubt,  the 
same  as  Indian  Point.  "Ordered  that  Robert  Axley,  Thomas 
Standard  and  Richard  Mercer  be  appointed  to  view  a  road 
the  nearest  and  best  route  for  a  road  to  be  laid  out  from 
Concord  meeting  house  to  some  point  on  the  Ohio  River 
near  Wilcox's  ware  house."  Concord  meeting  house  must 
have  been  near  the  cemetery  of  that  name  which  is  near 
the  line  of  Union  and  Johnson  and  one  half  mile  due  north 
of  the  old  William  Yearly  Davis  place.  At  September 
court,  1823,  Isaac  D.  Wilcox,  John  L.  Cooper  and  John  Cope- 
land  were  appointed  to  view  a  route  for  a  road  from  Vienna 
to  Wilcox's  ware  house  on  the  Ohio  River.  They  reported 
on  this  road  in  1824  and  were  appointed  supervisors  of 
same ;  all  living  within  three  miles  of  the  road  to  the  bridge 
must  work  this  road  and  all  within  seven  miles  must  work 
it  beyond  the  bridge  to  the  ware  house."  It  evidently  took 
a  great  deal  of  work  and  time  of  the  citizens  to  make  roads 
at  that  time;  one  can  scarcely  decide  which  the  greater 
burden  to  work  and  open  up  new  roads  as  they  did  in  those 
days  or  to  keep  them  up  at  the  present.  Three  notches  on 
a  tree  indicated  a  public  road,  a  blaze  on  a  tree  marked  a 
neighborhood  road.  The  following  men  were  appointed  to 
supervise  certain  sections  of  these  roads,  1823.  "The  road 
from  Golconda  to  Jonesboro,"  that  part  of  said  road  that 
lies  between  the  bridge  on  Cache  and  the  county  line  of 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY  49 

Pope."    John  Peterson  to  superintend  that  part  between  the 
afore  said  bridge  and  the  town  of  Vienna.  "    Ivy  Reynolds 
from  Vienna  to  Simpson  and  Samuel  Stanton  Simpson  from 
his  house  to  the  county  line  of  Pope."     "On  the  old  road 
from  Golconda  to  Jonesboro;  Joshua  Elkins  to  superintend 
that  part  of  said  road  which  lies  between  Dutchman  Lick 
and  the  county  line  of  Union."     "Samuel  McGowan  from 
said  Lick  eastward  as  far  as  the  line  that  divided  Vienna 
and  Bloomneld  Townships."    William  Shelby  from  the  north 
east  corner  of  his  land  to  the  county  line  of  Pope."     The 
road  from  Golconda  to  Jonesboro  passing  through  Vienna 
was  divided  into  two  districts,  known  as  eastern  which  ex- 
tended from  the  county  line  of  Pope  to  Vienna,  and  western 
district  which  extended  from  Vienna  to  the  county  line  of 
Union.     Ivy  Reynolds  was   appointed  supervisor   for  the 
eastern  district  for  the  year,  1826  and  William  Elkins  for 
the  western  district  for  the  same  year.     The  old  road  run- 
ning through  Bloomfield  was  divided  the  same  way,  the 
same  year  with  Washington  McFatridge  in  charge  from 
Pope  County  line  to  Bloomneld  and  Henry  Mangum  was 
supervisor  from  Bloomfield  west  to  Union   County  line." 
To  the  honorable  judges  of  the  court  of  Johnson  County, 
Greeting — In  pursuance  of  an  act  of  the  General  Assembly, 
approved  January  15,  1825.  "We,  your  petitioners  pray  that 
you  would  lay  out  a  road  beginning  at  the  county  line,  be- 
tween Johnson  and  Pope  Counties,  near  Thomas  Reeds  on 
Big  Bay,  thence  through  the  settlement  of  Mark  Rentfro 
thence  the  nearest  and  best -route  to  Hardy  Johnson's  on 
the  old  road,  from  thence  to  intersect  the  old  Kaskaskia  road 
at  or  near  Ezekiel  Choats  on  the  little  Saline,  as  we  believe 
it  will  be  a  road  of  great  utility  and  that  yon  appoint  suit- 
able persons  to  review  it.    Signers —  (the  only  names  legible 
were)  :   Hardy  and  Joel  Johnson."     J.  H.  G.  Wilcox  pre- 
sented a  petition  to  the  May  court,   1827,  praying  for  a 
road  from  Vienna,  by  Reuben  Wilson's  on  Georges  Creek, 
to  his  ferry  on  the  Ohio  River.    It  was  granted  and  Ander- 
son Douglas,  Martin  Harvick  and  John  Shearer  were  ap 
pointed  viewers  of  the  road.     (Reuben  Wilson  entered  land, 
1836,  which  is  now  owned  by  J.  L.  Broadway.)  In  1828,  a 
number  of  citizens  petitioned  for  a  road  beginning  at  Pope 
County  line  near  Thomas  Reed's  on  Big  Bay  thence  through 
the  settlement  of  Mark  Rentfro  thence  to  Hardy  Johnson's 
on  the  old  road,  from  thence  to  intersect  the  old  Kaskaskia 
road  at  or  near  Ezkiel  Choats  on  little  Saline.    In  1856,  the 


50  A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


following  road  was  ordered :  "Beginning  at  H.  Carson's  and 
running  in  a  northwest  direction  to  Williamson  County 
line  passing  0.  Francis,  F.  Boyt's,  D.  C.  Chapman,  E.  F. 
Francis,  H.  M.  Ridenhower,  James  Parish  and  the  widow 
Ollis,  L.  W.  Fern  and  D.  C.  Chapman  were  reviewers."  This 
is  a  later  date  than  others  but  is  used  to  complete  the  middle 
Marion  road. 

The  county  was  well  supplied  with  roads  which  had 
been  laid  out  in  a  comparatively  short  time.  The  lack  of 
good  roads  has  long  been  a  menace  to  our  county  as  well  as 
to  the  rest  of  the  state.  Our  citizens  began  to  take  an 
interest  in  the  hard  road  question  only  a  few  years  ago. 
Our  commissioners  began  putting  in  permanent  bridges  and 
culverts  about  1900.  An  enthusiastic  meeting  was  held  in 
Vienna  in  the  fall  of  1913,  especially  planned  in  the  interest 
of  the  "Logan  and  Lee"  highway.  A  number  from  ad- 
joining counties  and  Kentucky  attended  and  it  looked  like, 
the  road  was  almost  here.  The  result  of  this  convention 
remains  in  the  red,  white  and  blue  stripes  on  the  telephone 
poles  through  the  county,  marking  the  proposed  great  high- 
way. This,  of  course,  is  something  but  not  what  was  ex- 
pected. This  remaining  sign  and  the  successful  meeting 
was  due  mostly  to  the  efforts  of  Noel  Whitehead,  who  was 
at  that  time  mayor  of  Vienna.  The  state  road  which  is 
being  built  from  the  $60,000,000  bond  issue  was  surveyed  in 
1921.  It  enters  the  county  from  the  northeast,  just  south 
of  Stone  Fort,  passes  through  Burnside  Township  to  the 
southwest,  passes  through  Tunnel  Hill  Township,  a  little 
east  of  the  railroad  and  directly  through  Guy  Beauman's 
farm  and  Bloomfield  in  the  same  general  direction.  It 
crosses  the  Big  Four  railroad  above  the  little  village  of 
Bloomfield,  cutting  directly  through  the  farm  of  T.  J.  Clay- 
ton and  entering  the  limits  of  Vienna  on  the  northeast 
corner  thence  through  the  eastern  section  of  the  town.  It 
crosses  the  Big  Four  rail  road  two  miles  directly  south  of 
Vienna.  This  road  is  a  part  of  route  one  and  connects 
Chicago  and  Metropolis.  It  is  called  the  "Wonder  Land 
Route."  In  1918,  1730  votes  were  cast  in  this  county  for  the 
$60-000,000  bond  issue  to  build  state  roads  and  only  260 
against.  The  public  roads  of  the  county  are  much  better 
than  ten  years  ago  and,  no  doubt  will  improve  continuously. 
Fourteen  miles  of  the  above  road  is  now  open  to  traffic, 
1924. 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY  51 


FERRIES 

One  would  think  ferries  a  rather  queer  subject  for  the 
history  of  a  county  so  far  inland  as  Johnson  County  is  at 
present,  but  it  must  not  be  forgotten  that  in  our  former 
greatness  as  a  territorial  county,  we  bordered  on  two  rivers. 

All  families  coming  here  from  the  south  had  to  cross 
the  river  to  reach  the  desired  haven  which  necessitated  a 
ferry,  and  many  coming  from  the  east  floated  down  the 
Ohio  on  rafts.  They  might  be  taken  into  the  farther  side 
by  the  current  and  needed  a  ferry  to  land  them  on  the  right 
side.  Perhaps  it  would  be  interesting  to  know  how  many  of 
our  later  settlers  reached  this  section  by  way  of  the  rivers. 
They  built  rafts  which  were  logs  pinned  together,  put 
the  lumber  they  wanted  to  use  in  building  their  houses  on 
them,  and  shoved  them  into  the  river;  loaded  the  family, 
the  stock,  and  all  their  belongings  onto  them  and  floated 
away.  There  was  usually  a  small  inclosure  in  the  center  to 
shelter  the  family.  The  cow  was  staked  out  to  one  side, 
the  chickens,  pigs  and  other  domestic  animals  were  coralled 
in  an  inclosure;  they  cooked,  ate,  milked  and  churned,  fed 
the  stock  and  lived  at  home  on  this  mininature  farm  with- 
out soil  until  they  reached  their  destination.  The  father 
guided  this  frail  bark  into  Hull's  or  Mile's  Landing,  Fort 
Massac  or  Mound  City. 

Many  people  emigrating  to  Kaskaskia,  Cahokia,  and 
other  parts  of  the  state  further  north  and  west  came  to 
the  Kentucky  shore  and  crossed  at  Lusks  Ferry.  Fort 
Massac  was  a  favorite  landing  place  for  emigrants  since 
the  first  one  came.  And  the  Mississippi  River  must  have 
been  almost  lined  with  ferries  judging  from  the  number 
given  in  our  first  courts  as  applying  for  permission  to  estab- 
lish them. 

At  the  second  term  of  Johnson  County  court,  held  in 
1813,  "on  motion  of  Henry  Earthman  to  have  his  ferry  on 
the  Mississippi,  formerly  known  by  the  name  of  Waller's 
Ferry  established."  It  was  so  ordered  by  the  court.  This 
is  the  first  mention  of  a  ferry  on  our  records  and  the  fol- 
lowing rates  were  established  for  the  government  of  this 
ferry,  to-wit:  for  crossing  a  wagon  and  team,  $3.00;  a 
carriage  of  pleasure  with  four  wheels,  $4.00;  two  wheels 
of  the  same  description,  $2.00;  a  cart  $1.00;  a  man  and 


52  A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


horse  62V2C,  pack  horse  62%,  single  man  or  horse  25c,  neat 
cattle  20c,  sheep,  hogs  or  goats  10c,  for  all  kinds  of  pack 
mules,  oxen  and  horses,  the  same  rate  as  a  horse. 

At  the  September  court,  1814,  William  Simpson  and 
John  Robinson  were  given  leave  to  establish  a  ferry  on  the 
Mississippi  below  the  mouth  of  Apple  Creek.  Later,  in 
1815  Charles  Bradley  entered  a  ferry  on  the  Mississippi 
opposite  Cape  Girardeau  and  the  same  rates  were  to  govern 
as  had  been  allowed  for  the  others.  In  1816  Smiley  had  a 
warehouse  and  ferry  on  the  Mississippi.  Green  operated 
a  ferry  on  the  same  river  in  1814.  In  1815  John  Earthman 
had  leave  to  operate  the  ferry  established  by  Simpson  and 
Robinson  the  year  before  in  the  name  of  John  Hay,  John 
and  Henry  Earthman  and  William  Garner.  The  ferries  on 
the  Mississippi  in  1816  were  Tweesday's,  William  Smith's, 
Thomas  Green's,  Samuel  Penrod's  Charles  Bradley's,  Reu- 
ben Glover's,  Lewis  Crane's,  Power's  and  Smiley's.  Obidiah 
Russell  had  a  ferry  on  Cache.  All  these  ferries  paid  taxes 
into  the  Johnson  County  treasury  for  1816. 

Furguson's  ferry  was  on  the  Ohio  opposite  the  mouth 
of  the  Cumberland  River.  Mile's  Trace  began  at  Elizabeth- 
town,  and  Mile's  ferry  must  have  been  located  there.  Rey- 
nold's says  it  was  a  few  miles  above  Hull's  landing.  Lusk's 
ferry  was  on  the  Ohio,  opposite  the  present  site  of  Golconda. 
Established  1799.  Hull's  landing  was  a  few  miles  above 
Golconda  1780. 

In  1821  Issac  D.  Wilcox  was  given  leave  to  establish 
a  ferry  on  his  land  on  the  Ohio  River  at  his  warehouse  now 
being  erected  in  section  7,  township  15,  range  3  east  of  the 
third  principal  meridan.  The  following  rates  were  charged, 
being  much  less  than  those  established  in  1813 ;  wagon  arid 
team  of  four  horses,  $1.50;  a  carriage,  two  wheels  and  team, 
75c;  a  single  man  and  horse  37% ;  at  high  water  for  horned 
cattle  12 V2 ;  for  low  water  18% ;  at  high  water  hogs,  sheep 
or  goats  6c  each ;  at  low  water  8c  each.  He  was  also  licensed 
to  keep  tavern  at  this  place.  This  ferry  was  later  operated 
by  James  Copeland,  and  was  called  Copeland's  landing, 
His  widow  married  Captain  Williamson.  It  was  then 
known  as  Wiliamson's  landing,  and  later  as  Sharp's  land- 
ing. It  lies  between  the  old  John  Copeland  place,  now 
owned  by  Mrs.  Riley,  and  the  old  Sharp  farm,  and  not  far 
from  the  present  Massac  and  Pulaski  line. 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY  53 


Samuel  Copeland  owned  a  ferry  where  Joppa  is  now 
located,  after  the  civil  war,  which  was  operated  by  his  sons, 
Perry,  Richard,  James  and  Clinton. 

In  March  1824,  James  H.  G.  Wilcox,  having  made  ap- 
plication to  establish  a  ferry  on  his  land  about  one  mile  be- 
low Massac,  section  11,  township  16,  range  4  east;  the  court 
ordered  his  petition  granted  and  the  same  rates  were  allow- 
ed that  had  been  established  for  lssac  D.  Wilcox'  ferry  in 
1821.  This  was  in  the  present  limits  of  the  city  of  Metropolis 
which  was  laid  laid  out  about  eighteen  or  twenty  years 
later,  and  the  ferry  was  located  about  where  the  present 
Metropolis  ferry  now  operates. 

In  1816  the  Territorial  Legislature  passed  a  law  grant- 
ing free  ferriage  to  ministers  of  the  gospel  but  repealed  it  in 
December  1817.  Imagine,  if  you  can,  the  number  of 
preacher  crossing  the  river  while  this  law  was  in  force. 

The  taxes  on  these  ferries  were  $8  and  $3.  The  capac- 
ity of  the  craft  had,  no  doubt,  something  to  do  with  the 
difference  in  the  rate  of  tax.  When  the  counties  bordering 
on  the  rivers  were  organized,  our  control  of  and  the  revenue 
from  these  ferries  ceased. 

MILLS 

The  first  mills  of  this  county  were  doubtless  hollowed 
out  stones  or  stumps  with  pestles  for  the  grinding  and 
muscle  for  the  power.  Wheat  was  not  produced  to  a  very 
great  extent  in  the  very  first  years  of  the  county's  history. 

The  water  mill  succeeded  these  primitive  mills  and  were 
of  necessity  located  on  streams.  The  horse  mill  followed 
these. 

The  first  mill  we  have  any  knowledge  of  in  this  county 
was  owned  by  John  Whiteker  and  located  somewhere  be- 
tween Elvira  and  the  Mississippi  river.  This  is  not  very 
definite,  but  we  know  that  he  paid  taxes  on  this  mill  in  the 
year  1816. 

Brazel  had  a  mill  somewhere  west  of  Vienna  sometime 
in  the  20's.  Price  had  one  on  McCorcle  Creek  in  1823. 
Huse  operated  a  mill  on  Cache  on  the  new  road  from  Vienna 
to  Jonesboro  in  1828.  William  Lawrence  had  a  mill  on 
Cache  in  1816  and  was  taxed  60  cents  on  it  that  year. 


54  A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


Samuel  J.  Chapman  had  a  mill  on  Cache  near  the  James 
Arnett  farm,  now  owned  by  Marvin  Smith,  in  1845.  Laugh- 
lin,  father  of  R.  W.,  worked  a  mill  on  Big  Bay  in  1839, 
which  was  first  run  by  water  power.  This  mill  was  sold 
to  Whiteside,  and  later  to  Adair  who  added  an  engine. 
Many  people  from  Vienna  went  to  this  mill  for  their  bread 
stuff.  Major  A.  J.  Kuykendall,  future  congressman  from 
this  district,  was  often  seen  there  as  a  patron  when  a  small 
boy.  A  mill  begun  by  William  Price  about  where  the  Gol- 
conda  road  crosses  the  McCorcle  Creek,  was  finished  by 
Walter  Scott  in  1857.  This  was  among  the  first  steam 
mills  of  the  county. 

These  are  some  of  the  primitive  mills  of  the  county, 
the  larger  mills  will  be  listed  among  the  assests  of  the 
town  in  which  they  are  located.  Boggs  says,  "Minute 
regulations  were  established  by  the  territorial  laws  for 
mills  as  well  as  ferries.  Mills  were  required  to  use  a  pre- 
scribed measure  and  to  grind  for  prescribed  toll.  The  toll 
for  a  horse  mill  being  higher  than  a  water  mill,  unless  the 
owner  of  the  grain  furnished  the  horse."  An  act  of  1799 
made  the  toll  for  grinding  and  bolting  wheat  and  rye  into 
flour  one  eighth  of  the  quantity,  if  only  ground,  one  tenth. 
Penalties  were  imposed  for  excessive  tolls  and  millers  were 
made  accountable  for  all  grain  received.  It  required  two 
hours  to  grind  one  bushel  of  corn  on  a  horse  mill.  The 
early  settlers  had  to  go  miles  to  mill  and  sometimes  wait 
all  day  for  their  grinding,  as  the  rule  of  "first  come  first 
served"  prevailed.  "In  the  southern  settlements  the  people 
procured  their  grinding  at  New  Design,  Leven's  or  Kaskas- 
kia."     (Reynolds) 

EARLY  MAILS 

The  first  post  office  established  in  the  county  was  at 
Fort  Massac,  1803.  It  was  given  as  870  miles  from  Wash- 
ington. Fort  Massac  has  not  belonged  to  this  county  since 
1843,  but  no  doubt,  many  who  lived  in  our  present  limits 
have  gone  there  to  hear  from  their  old  Virginia,  N.  Carolina 
or  Tennessee  relatives  and  friends.  Johnson  Court  House 
was  the  post  office  at  Elvira  established  in  1817  with  James 
Finny  as  postmaster.  It  was  the  first  one  established  in 
our  present  boundaries  and  is  given  as  888  miles  from 
Washington.    There  was  a  post  office  at  Big  Bay  established 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY  55 


1815  and  kept  by  James  Whiteside  which  became  a  part  of 
Pope  County  when  it  was  organized.  Bloomfield  post  office 
is  given  on  the  Postmaster  General's  report  in  1819  with  S. 
J.  Chapman  as  Postmaster.  There  is  a  tradition  that 
Samuel  J.  Chapman  tried  to  make  Bloomfield  the  county 
seat  instead  of  Vienna  when  the  county  capitol  was  moved 
from  Elvira.  The  fact  that  he  was  postmaster  there  at  the 
above  date  would  make  the  story  very  plausible.  Cache 
Clap  Post  Office  was  kept  by  J.  B.  Murry,  1819  to  1821.  The 
exact  location  is  not  known.  Many  people  do  not  know 
what  a  country  post  office  was  like.  The  mail  was  carried 
on  horse  back  from  the  river  towns  or  landings  across  the 
country  to  the  post  office  which  was  kept  in  a  private  house 
or  a  country  store.  The  mail  was  delivered  once  a  week, 
sometimes  twice,  and  when  the  people  wanted  their  mail 
they  were  obliged  to  go  to  the  office  for  it.  The  old  mail 
route  leading  from  Vienna  to  Shawneetown  passed  through 
what  is  now  New  Burnside,  Reynoldsburg  and  by  William 
Mounce's  and  the  Dr.  LaRue  farm.  When  the  mail  carrier 
arrived  in  hearing  distance  of  the  house  where  he  was  to 
have  his  noon  meal  he  blew  a  horn  so  that  dinner  might  be 
on  the  table  and  the  horses  fed  and  ready  to  travel  in  order 
that  no  time  would  be  lost.  This  was  the  fast  mail  of  that 
day  and  time. 

"Stace  McDonough  had  the  contract  for  carrying  the 
mail  from  St.  Louis  and  Kaskaskia  across  country  to  Shaw- 
neetown, in  1812."     (Reynolds) 

The  first  mail  route  in  Johnson  County  was  from  Kas- 
kaskia to  Johnson  Court  House  at  Elvira  in  1817.  Levi 
Hughes  carried  the  mail  twice  a  month  from  Cape  Girar- 
deau to  Elvira  later  routes  as  advertised.  "The  mail  from 
Vienna  to  Golconda  via  Wool,  leaves  Monday  and  Wednes- 
day, arrives  Tuesdays  and  Thursdays.  Vienna  to  Golconda 
via  Rock,  leaves  Friday  arrives  Saturday/'  Another  of  the 
early  routes  was  from  Golconda  to  Vienna  then  on  to 
Dongola.  Samuel  Copeland  had  the  contract  for  this  route 
in  the  50's.  Samuel  Jackson,  Sr.,  was  one  of  the  early  mail 
riders,  as  they  were  called,  and  Fred  Burnett  was  another. 
S.  D.  Poor  rode  the  mail  from  Vienna  to  Caledonia  for  $6  a 
month.  The  man  taking  the  contract  usually  employed 
boys  to  ride  the  mail.  Milton  Ladd  is  given  as  the  post- 
master at  Vienna  in  1821,  and  S.  J.  Chapman  in  1825.    Rey- 


56  A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


noldsburg  Post  Office,  Johnson  County  was  established  July 
6,  1860.  Wesley  Reynolds  was  the  first  postmaster.  Cedar 
Bluff  was  established  April  25,  1856,  David  H.  Mead  was 
the  first  postmaster.  Gray's  Mill  was  established  January 
6,  1857,  Nathan  0.  Gray  was  the  postmaster.  Cedar  Bluff 
was  a  country  post  office  near  Goreville.  Gray's  Mill  was 
situated  between  Cypress  and  Belknap. 

When  the  population  would  justify  the  mail  routes 
were  shortened  and  the  mail  was  delivered  oftener.  When 
the  roads  would  permit  the  mail  was  carried  by  stage, 
which  also  carried  passengers.  This  was  a  great  conven- 
ience before  the  days  of  railroads.  These  routes  have  been 
shortened  till  they  only  include  the  county  and  lengthened 
till  they  reach  every  citizen's  door.  Rural  delivery  was 
established  in  this  county  in  1904  and  every  farmer  of  the 
county  has  his  mail  put  in  his  special  box  once  each  day. 
We  are  not  only  able  to  have  the  morning  paper  delivered 
at  our  door  but  we  may  call  up  by  telephone  any  one  in  the 
county  any  day  and  as  many  times  a  day  as  we  like,  if  the 
line  is  not  busy,  and  talk  about  the  current  events  of  the 
neighborhood  and  family  affairs  to  the  delight  of  all  the 
other  people  on  the  toll  line.  A  business  man  can  sit  in  his 
office  and  transact  business  in  Chicago,  St.  Louis  or  New 
York.  It  is  a  stride  from  the  country  post  office  to  the  daily 
mail,  the  telegraph,  telephone  and  radio. 

The  first  telephone  in  our  county  was  a  private  one  in- 
stalled by  P.  T.  Chapman,  in  1890.  It  extended  from  his 
office  in  the  First  National  Bank  to  the  Big  Four  Railroad 
station  and  later  to  the  Blomfield  stock  farm.  J.  B.  Kuy- 
kendall  had  the  second  line  extending  from  his  mill  to  his 
residence.  In  1898  Robert  Thacker,  Charles  Gray,  Ed  Boyt, 
D.  W.  Whittenberg  and  L.  0.  Whitnel  as  incorporators  put 
in  the  county  the  Interior  telephone  system.  It  was  patron- 
ized liberally  and  was  a  most  decided  convenience.  Private 
phones  were  installed  for  the  small  sum  of  $1.00  per  month. 
This  system  was  extended  into  several  adjoining  counties. 
After  the  death  of  Mr.  Thacker  the  stock  changed  hands  at 
different  times  and  the  system  was  finally  sold  in  1915  to 
the  Murphysboro  Telephone  System  for  $50,000.00  which 
exemplifies  its  necessity.  A  Mutual  Telephone  System  was 
established  in  the  county  in  1909,  A.  J.  Kuykendall  and 
William  George  being  the  promoters.    This  system  was  also 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY  57 


sold  to  the  Murphysboro  Corporation  in  1920  and  they  now 
control  all  the  lines  in  the  county  except  the  Terry  lines  of 
Goreville  Township  which  are  owned  and  operated  by  W. 
A.  Terry  and  the  Simpson  System  which  is  owned  by  J.  W. 
Reynolds. 

RAILROADS 

The  Cairo  and  Viencennes  Railroad  Company,  whose 
president  was  General  Burnside  of  Civil  War  fame,  began 
the  plans  to  construct  a  road  through  our  county  in  1867. 
The  county  realizing  the  great  need  of  this  facility  was 
ready  to  assist  in  getting  this  enterprise  started  as  hereto- 
fore we  had  no  means  of  transportation  other  than  coach, 
wagon,  or  horseback.  The  people  readily  agreed  to  take 
$100,000.00  worth  of  stock  in  this  company  to  help  finance 
the  construction  and  equip  the  road.  The  company  sold 
this  stock  to  the  county  for  $95,000.00  in  bonds.  The  bonds 
were  issued  in  1872  and  were  due  in  1892,  drawing  8  per 
cent  interest.  For  some  reason  the  county  undertook  to 
fight  the  payment  of  these  bonds  and  failed  to  pay  the 
interest  on  them  for  several  years.  By  1885,  $40,000  inter- 
est had  accured  and  the  county  was  threatened  with  a  suit 
for  this  amount.  The  county  commissioners  employed  Judge 
Duff,  of  Carbondale,  111.,  to  look  into  the  case  and  paid  him 
$1,000.00  for  his  opinion,  which  was  that  the  bonds  were 
legal.  In  order  to  be  more  certain  the  county  then  employed 
Judge  Duff,  A.  G.  Damron,  and  P.  T.  Chapman  to  bring  a 
test  case,  which  they  did  for  a  fee  of  $500.00.  The  court 
also  decided  the  bonds  were  legal  and  that  the  county  would 
have  to  pay  them,  with  the  accrued  interest.  After  being 
sued  for  the  interest  and  incurring  the  above  extra  expense, 
the  commissioners  finally  levied  a  tax  to  meet  the  interest 
and  a  part  of  the  bonds  each  year.  P.  T.  Chapman  was 
made  financial  agent  and  bought  up  the  bonds  as  fast  as 
the  money  accrued.  The  last  of  these  bonds  was  paid  about 
1906. 

This  railroad  enters  the  county  in  the  northeast  corner 
and  runs  almost  diagonally  across  the  county  to  the  south- 
west. The  construction  was  begun  in  1871  and  finished  in 
1872.  The  following  is  a  part  of  a  letter  published  in  the 
Vienna  Artery,  August  2,  1871.  "Harrisburg,  Illinois, 
July  31,  1871.  Mr.  N.  Pearce,  Vienna,  111.,  Dear  Sir: 
While  I  was  in  New  York  on  Thursday  last,  Gen.  Burnside 


58  A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


directed  Dodge,  Lord  &  Co.,  to  commerce  work  on  the  Cario 
and  Vincennes  Railroad,  in  the  counties  of  White  and  Saline, 
which  they  did  last  week.  It  is  the  expectation  to  commence 
work  in  the  other  counties  without  unnecessary  delay."  The 
remainder  of  the  letter  is  in  regard  to  procuring  the  right 
of  way  by  gift,  if  possible-  and  signed  by  Green  B.  Raum. 

Green  R.  Casey  says  the  first  railroad  iron  that  was  laid 
in  the  county  was  hauled  to  Tunnel  Hill  in  a  wagon,  twelve 
in  number,  February  14,  1872,  and  late  in  the  fall  of  this 
same  year  the  first  freight  was  hauled  into  the  county  over 
the  Big  Four,  consisting  of  bailed  hay.  It  was  unloaded 
one  mile  north  of  Tunnel  Hill  and  hauled  on  wagons  to  that 
place  to  feed  the  teams  of  William  Douglas,  a  railroad  con- 
tractor. 

While  this  road  has  given  us  poor  shipping  facilities 
and  the  shabbiest  rolling  stock  possible,  yet  we  were  com- 
pelled to  be  loyal  to  it  for  it  was  all  we  had  for  several 
years.  It  was  later  merged  into  the  Big  Four  system  and  is 
known  by  that  name,  which  is  a  part  of  the  New  York 
Central  lines. 

The  St.  Louis,  Alton  and  Terre  Haute  was  chartered 
in  1887  and  built  through  our  county  in  1888  and  1889. 
George  W.  Parker  was  president  of  the  company.  Its  be- 
ginning is  St.  Louis  and  it  runs  across  the  eastern  part  of 
the  county  from  north  to  south,  bearing  slightly  to  the  east 
crossing  the  Big  Four  at  Parker  and  running  into  Metro- 
polis, Massac  County,  and  then  on  to  Paduch.  The  nearest 
station  on  this  road  to  Vienna  is  Grantsburg,  about  eight 
miles  away.  This  road  was  later  extended  from  Reeveville, 
this  county  to  Golconda,  Pope  County.  It  was  some  years 
afterwards  acquired  by  the  Illinois  Central  System,  and 
they  extended  the  line  into  Hardin  County  as  far  as  Rosa 
Clare. 

This  still  left  one  section  of  the  county  without  a  rail- 
road till  1899,  when  the  route  of  the  Chicago  and  Eastern 
Illinois  was  surveyed  on  the  western  side  running  from 
north  to  south  almost  parallel  with  the  western  county  line. 
Work  on  this  division  was  begun  in  April  1900,  and  was 
pushed  through  to  completion  extending  the  road  from 
Marion,  Williamson  County,  to  Thebes  in  Alexander  Coun- 
ty  and  giving  the  western  portion  of  our  county  a  direct 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY  59 


and  quick  service  to  Chicago.    It  passes  Vienna  about  four 
miles  to  the  west  at  West  Vienna. 

The  Burlington,  which  uses  the  Chicago  and  Eastern 
Illinois  lines,  through  the  county  to  West  Vienna  and  leaves 
them  just  below  the  station,  crosses  the  county  a  short  dis- 
tance in  an  easterly  direction.  It  also  crosses  the  Big  Four 
railroad  at  Foreman  and  leaves  the  county  just  beyond  this 
crossing.  The  Burlington  was  begun  in  1907  and  the  first 
train  was  sent  over  it  in  1910.  This  makes  four  railroads 
in  the  county. 

PUBLIC  BUILDINGS 

The  first  court  for  Johnson  County  was  held  in  the 
dwelling  house  of  John  Bradshaw  at  or  near  Elvira,  it  hav- 
ing been  appointed  by  the  Governor.  The  next  knowledge  of 
a  court  house  is  that  James  P^inny  is  ordered  to  procure  the 
following  repairs  to  be  made  on  the  house  now  used  as  a 
court  house.  This  order  was  made  in  ^September  1813. 
They  evidently  had  used  some  other  building  than  Brad- 
shaw's  dwelling  during  the  summer,  but  now  that  winter 
was  coming  on  they  must  repair  it  as  follows  towit:  "A 
floor  laid  in  the  same  with  puncheons,  a  chimney  of  wood, 
a  common  door  of  boards  and  the  house  to  be  chincked  and 
daubed  (puncheons  were  logs  split  and  hewed  off  as  smooth- 
ly as  possible,  a  chimney  of  wood  was  built  up  something 
like  a  pen  with  small  sticks  and  lined  with  clay,  boards  were 
riven  from  length  of  logs  three  and  four  feet  long ;  chincked 
and  daubed  meant  that  small  sticks  were  placed  in  the 
cracks  between  the  logs  in  the  wall  of  the  house  and  mud 
made  from  clay  and  water,  was  filled  in  over  these  sticks 
and  when  it  dried  it  made  a  pretty  solid  wall)  seats  for 
the  jurors,  a  small  half  cabin  to  be  built  adjoining  the 
same  to  be  chincked  and  daubed,  with  a  partition  of  logs  for 
the  purpose  of  a  jury  room;  provided  the  repair  must  not 
exceed  $18.00."  Januray  1814,  the  court  proceeded  to  let 
the  contract  for  the  building  of  a  court  house  to  the  lowest 
bidder.  The  sheriff  reported  that  William  Simpson  was 
the  lowest  bidder  and  had  bid  it  off  at  $260.  To  be  paid 
in  three  installments.  The  first  on  the  15th  day  of  Novem- 
ber, 1814  and  yearly  afterwards.  "The  court  house  is  to 
be  built  agreeably  to  a  plan  now  on  exhibit  and  will  be  more 
fully  set  forth  in  the  bond  to  be  given."  To  complete  this 
contract  William  Simpson  gave  a  bond  of  $525.00  with 


GO  A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


Daniel  and  Lewis  Simpson  as  bondsmen.  After  the  com- 
pletion of  the  Court  House  its  acceptance  was  left  to  the 
following  committe:  Hezekiah  West,  Andrew  Cochran  and 
George  Evans.  William  Simpson  received  only  $175.75  for 
the  building.  It  was  a  large  hewed  log  house,  thirty  or 
forty  feet  long,  with  a  fire  place  in  each  end.  It  stood  one 
quarter  of  a  mile  from  the  present  road,  north  of  the  home 
of  Charles  Robertson.  The  exact  location  is  on  a  little  rise 
and  can  be  determined  by  the  foundation  of  rocks  of  the 
chimneys  which  are  now  slightly  covered  as  the  field  has 
been  cultivated  for  years.  The  old  road  bed  that  ran  by 
the  court  house  can  be  plainly  seen  and  the  spring  under 
the  hill  is  still  in  use.  One  of  these  old  stone  chimneys 
is  partially  standing  in  another  place  on  the  farm  where  it 
later  served  another  building.  Daniel  Chapman,  Chapter 
D.  A.  R.  has  the  plans  complete  to  mark  the  site  of  our 
first  court  house.     (1924) 

The  following  is  not  a  story  of  a  building  but  of  a  pro- 
posed seat  of  justice  which  would  have  contained  our  sec- 
ond court  house  had  it  ever  materialized.  The  territorial 
law  called  for  the  court  house  to  be  located  in  the  center  of 
the  county.  It  is  probable  that  Elvira  was  not  the  exact 
geographical  center  but  the  nearest  settlement  to  the  center 
when  designated  as  the  county  seat,  so  that  on  January  14, 
1814,  Owen  Evans,  James  A.  Whiteside,  and  Jonas  Hibbs 
were  ordered  to  fix  a  seat  of  justice  and  this  is  their  report, 
"We  the  undersigned  appointed  by  the  general  assembly  of 
this  territory  for  the  purpose  of  fixing  the  seat  of  justice 
in  the  county  of  Johnson  having  met  on  Monday  the  19th 
day  of  January,  1814,  at  the  house  of  John  Bradshaw,  with- 
in the  said  county  did  then  and  there  proceed  to  ascertain 
the  center  of  said  county  agreeably  to  the  several  laws  of 
the  Territory,  enacted  by  the  General  Assembly  thereof  for 
fixing  the  place  of  holding  the  court  in  the  several  counties 
and  after  mature  deliberation  have  finally  fixed  and  deter- 
mined on  the  following  place  as  the  most  proper,  conven- 
ient and  desirable  for  the  same  towit :  at  on  near  a  certain 
spring  on  Lick  Creek  about  a  mile  above  the  wagon  ford, 
on  said  creek,  where  the  road  leading  to  Furguson's  ferry 
crosses  the  said  creek  and  which  said  spring  is  within  fifth 
section  of  township  12,  range  2  east  of  the  meridian  line 
and  in  the  southwest  corner  of  said  section.,,  Given  under 
our  hand  and  seal  this  21st  day  of  January,  1814.    John  B. 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY  61 


Murry,  Owen  Evans,  Jonah  Hibbs  (Seal).  This  was  about 
where  the  farms  of  R.  L.  Robertson,  George  Mozley  and 
Anniel  T.  Mozley  corner. 

This  report  was  not  approved  till  December,  1816,  the 
judges  then  agreed  to  meet  in  March,  1817,  to  lay  off  the 
town  and  the  surveyor,  John  Hargrave  was  ordered  to  meet 
them  at  that  time.  At  the  October  court,  1817,  John  Har- 
grave was  allowed  $79.25  for  surveying  and  laying  off  the 
50  acre  donation  for  the  use  as  a  seat  of  justice  to  be  known 
as  Lanesville,  there  being  681  lots.  At  this  same  court  there 
was  an  order  as  follows:  "The  court  adjourn  to  meet  at 
Lanesville,  the  seat  of  justice  lately  fixed  upon  for  this 
county,  that  the  clerk  and  sheriff  do  move  their  several 
offices  to  that  place  by  then."  This  is  the  only  record  of 
Lanesville. 

The  commissioners  met  the  fourth  Monday  in  May, 
1818,  and  one  order  of  the  court  was  to  let  the  building  of  a 
court  house  at  the  new  seat  of  justice  (later  known  as 
Vienna)  to  the  lowest  bidder.  "To  be  built  of  logs  of  good 
size  to  be  hewn  down  outside  and  in,  24  feet  in  length  and 
18  inches  in  width,  with  two  doors  and  three  windows.  The 
sheriff  is  further  authorized  to  let  the  building  of  a  log 
house  24  by  14  feet  with  a  partition  for  the  purpose  of 
jury  rooms  both  to  be  paid  for  by  installments  in  whatever 
way  may  be  agreed  upon  by  the  trustees  for  the  sale  of  lots 
in  said  town.  These  buildings  were  to  be  paid  for  from 
this  sale.  At  the  July  court,  1818,  the  sheriff  reported  that 
he  had  let  the  building  of  the  court  house  and  the  one  for 
the  use  of  the  jurors  to  the  lowest  bidder,  George  Brazel. 
The  sale  of  lots  was  ordered  advertised  in  the  "Emigrant" 
which  was  published  at  Shawneetown.  The  sale  to  take 
place  the  third  Monday  in  September,  1818.  The  sheriff 
was  to  offer  for  sale  beginning  with  lot  number  1  leaving 
out  every  other  one  except  number  37,  38,  55  and  56. 

The  naming  of  the  county  seat  is  given  under  Vienna. 
At  a  special  term  of  court,  held  August  15,  1818,  with  James 
Bain,  Andrew  Cochran,  T.  C.  Patterson  and  John  Copeland 
justices,  the  report  was  made  that  the  court  house  and 
buildings  for  the  use  of  the  jurors  were  complete.  They 
were  received  by  the  court,  and  the  officers  of  the  county 
were  ordered  to  move  their  offices  to  the  new  buildings  in 
the  town  of  Vienna.     From  the  best  information  that  can 


62  A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


be  obtained  these  buildings  stood  in  the  northwest  corner 
of  the  court  square.  At  a  court  held  June  1819,  a  payment 
was  ordered  to  be  made  to  George  Brazel  for  the  building 
of  the  court  house  and  jury  rooms.  Irvin  Morris  as  sheriff 
was  ordered  "to  have  some  fit  person  to  lay  a  floor  with 
plank  to  be  nailed  or  pinned  down."  Randolph  Casey  was 
allowed  $18.00  for  flooring  the  court  house,  1819.  Caleb 
Irwin  repaired  the  court  house  in  1821  at  a  cost  to  the 
county  of  $48.70.  An  order  was  issued  by  the  court,  July, 
1823  forbidding  anyone  to  occupy  the  court  house  or  any 
of  the  jury  rooms  as  a  dwelling,  from  that  time  they  were 
to  be  kept  by  the  sheriff  as  the  law  directs.  In  1827,  Samuel 
Copeland  as  sheriff  was  ordered  to  let  the  building  of  a 
court  house.  Possibly  the  courts  had  out  grown  the  build- 
ings since  the  circuit  court  had  been  ordered  held  in  the 
house  of  Ivy  Reynolds,  formerly  occupied  by  Joseph  Mc- 
Corcle,  September,  1827.  This  new  court  house  might  have 
been  especially  for  the  circuit  court  as  Vienna  was  one  of 
the  three  places  for  holding  the  district  courts  for  this 
section  of  the  state. 

There  are  no  other  records  regarding  the  building  of 
a  court  house  until  1839  when  there  was  an  order  by  the 
court  similar  to  the  one  of  1827  but  where,  by  whom  or  if 
built  at  all  is  not  known.  There  was  however  a  two  story 
brick  court  house  here  in  1848.  standing  about  where  the 
present  one  stands.  The  offices  were  on  the  first  floor  with 
the  court  room  above,  just  when  it  was  built  or  its  cost  is  not 
left  on  record.  It  was  repaired  in  1853  by  Frank  Hayward. 
Some  of  the  bricks,  after  it  was  razed,  were  used  in  the  con- 
struction of  the  Christian  Church  which  stands  on  N.  Sixth 
street  in  Vienna.  The  contract  for  building  the  present 
court  house  was  let  the  5th  of  August,  1868,  between  Joseph 
K.  Frick,  of  Cairo,  party  of  the  first  part,  and  Jason  B. 
Smith,  county  judge  of  Johnson  County  with  Mark  White- 
aker  associate  justice,  party  of  the  second  part.  A.  J. 
Henry  of  Vienna  was  superintendent  of  the  work  and  the 
contract  called  for  $38,000  to  be  paid  for  the  building.  The 
bonds  drew  10  per  cent  interest.  In  September,  1869  Frick 
sold  his  contract  to  Charles  J.  Ham  and  Issac  N.  Pearce 
through  A.  J.  Kuykendall,  Frick's  attorney.  The  contract 
was  bought  for  one  dollar  paid  to  Frick,  but  the  contract 
with  the  court  remained  the  same.  The  final  payments  were 
made  on  this  building  in  1881,  it  costing,  with  interest  over 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY  63 


$80,000.00.  The  officers  of  the  county  were  assigned  their 
respective  offices  in  the  building  January  19,  1871.  This 
is  a  brick  building  of  a  good  style  of  architecture  and  por- 
portion,  well  built  and  in  the  original  plan  the  court  room 
was  one  of  the  most  attractive  ones  in  any  of  the  neighbor- 
ing counties.  It  was  well  lighted  and  ventilated.  A  beauti- 
ful Walnut  stairway  that  could  not  be  replaced,  at  this  time, 
except  at  an  enormous  cost  led  up  to  this  room,  a  jury 
room  was  also  on  this  second  floor  while  the  officers  were 
all  located  on  the  first  floor.  In  1908  or  about  then  the 
county  commisioners  rearranged  the  interior  of  the  building 
built  fire  proof  vaults  a  much  needed  improvement,  put  in 
a  heating  plant  and  added  a  local  water  supply  system 
which  improved  the  convenience  of  building,  but  destroyed 
the  comfort  and  beauty  of  the  court  room. 

A  bronze  tablet  was  replaced  in  the  corridor  of  the 
court  house  by  the  county  board,  J.  C.  Carter,  John  L. 
Thornton  and  H.  O.  Cavitt  in  1919  at  an  expense  of  $700.00 
in  honor  of  the  World  War  soldiers  of  this  county,  which 
contains  the  names  of  every  man  who  served  from  this 
county. 

The  court  house  grounds  have  been  a  menace  to  the  pub- 
lic eye  since  they  were  first  laid  off  as  the  building  of  a  stray 
pound  of  heavy  oak  timber  was  one  of  the  first  ornaments 
located  in  it.  It  was  originally  full  of  gullies  and  for  years 
had  no  shade  or  grass.  Charles  Burnett,  father  of  Fred, 
did  the  first  filling  in  this  yard  using  his  own  teams,  M. 
T.  VanCleve  did  quite  a  bit  more  when  he  built  the  Central 
Hotel  on  the  south  side  of  the  square.  In  October,  1916,  the 
Daniel  Chapman  Chapter  Daughters  of  the  American 
Revolution  set  a  day  for  work  on  the  court  house  yard. 
They  had  previously  solicited  teams  and  the  help  of  men 
and  school  boys  to  whom  they  furnished  dinner.  Their  re- 
quest was  generously  accedded  to  and  quite  a  little  more 
filling  was  done.  Trees  were  set  out  a  good  many  years 
ago,  the  first  ones  by  John  Harvick,  a  son  of  Mrs.  James 
Harvick  Slack,  (better  known  as  aunt  Mary  Slack)  and  a 
grandson  of  Jacob  Harvick  the  pioneer.  Bain  &  Jackson, 
Dr.  G.  W.  Elkins,  J.  B.  Kuykendall,  Chapman  &  Wiley,  C. 
B.  Hester  and  others  contributed  to  the  setting  out  of  more 
trees  and  the  beautiful  trees  and  pleasant  shade  that  we 
now  enjoy  in  our  court  square  is  the  result  of  others'  plant- 
ing."    During  the  year  1916  the  Daniel  Chapman  Chapter 


04  A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 

D.  A.  R.  of  Vienna  tried  to  interest  the  schols  of  the  county 
in  building  a  wall  or  coping  around  the  court  square;  sev- 
eral schools  responded  ana  the  name  of  the  school  together 
with  the  name  of  the  teacher  for  that  term  can  be  found 
on  the  concrete  wall.  The  prophecy  has  been  made  that  if 
the  history  of  these  teachers  was  followed,  they  will  be 
found  among  the  progressive  citizens  of  the  community  in 
which  they  live.  B.  F.  McGee,  a  business  man  of  New 
York  City,  who  is  a  native  of  this  county  also  contributed 
generously.  With  these  amounts  and  the  promise  of  the 
county  board,  which  was  composed  at  that  time  of  J.  C. 
Carter,  John  L.  Thornton  and  H.  0.  Cavit  that  they  would 
meet  the  remaining  cost  for  a  wall  on  the  east  half  of  the 
yard,*  the  chapter  made  a  contract  and  thought  that  the 
wall  was  to  be  built  immediately  but  for  some  reason  the 
contractor  delayed  from  time  to  time  until  the  World  War 
came  on;  labor  and  material  went  skyward  and  the  work 
was  obliged  to  wait  a  season  or  two.  Finally  in  1918  this 
part  of  the  wall  was  built  and  in  1920  the  entire  work  of 
inclosing  the  court  yard,  was  completed  by  the  county  com- 
missioners, to  the  satisfaction  of  every  progressive  and 
loyal  citizen  of  Johnson  County.  The  fall  of  1921.  William 
Nobles,  N.  J.  Mozley,  J.  W.  Rushing  as  commissioners  had 
the  cement  walks  laid  in  the  yard.  With  a  little  planting 
the  court  square  will  be  a  very  atractive  spot.  The  posts 
and  chain  around  the  court  square  had  been  a  veritable 
annoyance  for  many  years.  The  hitching  of  horses  around 
the  square  was  unsanitary,  creating  dirt  and  flies ;  on  a  hot 
damp  day  the  stench  was  almost  unbearable,  not  to  mention 
the  health  of  the  people  that  had  to  work  near  it  every  day. 
The  excuse  offered  for  not  creating  better  conditions 
was  always  that  the  farmers  had  to  have  a  hitching  place 
which  was  most  true  and  the  business  men  of  the  town 
should  have  provided  a  suitable  one  long  ago.  The  farmers 
did  not  want  the  people  to  put  up  with  this  condition  all 
the  time  that  they  might  have  a  hitching  place  a  few  hours 
at  a  time  once  or  twice  a  week.  Dave  Whitnell  as  care 
taker  of  the  court  house  and  grounds  did  much  toward 
making  and  keeping  the  court  yard  fit.  Mr.  Estes  the  pres- 
ent one  is  very  efficient. 

The  cannon  in  the  northwest  corner  of  the  court  yard 
was  one  used  during  the  Civil  War  and  was  secured  from 
the  government  about  1906  by  P.  T.  Chapman,  during  his 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY  H5 


term  of  office  as  Congressman  from  this  district.  The 
boulder  and  tablet  in  the  northeast  corner  was  placed  by  the 
Daniel  Chapman  Chapter  D.  A.  R.  of  Vienna  as  their  con- 
tribution to  the  Centennial  celebration  of  the  admission  of 
Illinois  as  a  state  into  the  Union.  It  should  have  been 
erected  in  1918,  but  on  account  of  unavoidable  delay  it  was 
not  unveiled  till  July  4,  1919.  Those  raising  the  flag  at 
this  exercise  were  children,  most  of  the  sixth  generation, 
who  decended  from  the  Revolutionary  soldiers  buried  in 
this  county  and  in  whose  honor  this  tablet  was  erected. 
They  were  Harrison  M.  Harvick,  Evelyn  and  Gladys  Beggs, 
Lois  and  Beatrice  Veach,  Pauline  Duncan  and  Frances 
Pickens. 

The  contract  for  building  the  first  jail  was  let  some 
time  in  1814  to  Marvin  Fuller;  the  jail  to  cost  $500.00  and 
the  bond  fixed  at  $1,000.00  with  Jacob  Jones  as  security.  At 
the  December  court,  16  lbs  of  iron  and  $5.00  were  ordered 
delivered  to  Hezekiah  West  to  have  the  jail  repaired  at 
Elvira.  The  sheriff  was  ordered  to  sell  the  old  jail  at 
Elvira,  April,  1823.  The  sheriff  was  ordered  to  let  the  con- 
tract for  building  a  jail  at  Vienna,  September,  1819,  also 
to  ascertain  the  plans  of  the  jails  at  Golconda,  County  Seat 
of  Pope;  Jonesboro,  County  Seat  of  Union  and  Browns- 
ville, at  that  time  County  Seat  of  Jackson.  The  following 
order  is  found  on  the  record,  dated  October  9,  1819: 
"Ordered  that  a  stray  pound  be  built  on  the  public  square, 
32  feet  square,  of  good  oak  timber."  There  must  have  been 
much  need  of  these  Estray  pounds  as  there  was  another 
ordered  built  in  1827  at  a  cost  of  $11.00.  This  was  more 
than  a  hundred  years  ago  and  we  had  not  grown  entirely 
away  from  the  desecration  of  the  public  square  in  1922,  but 
there  has  been  much  improvement  as  above  stated  in  the 
last  two  years.  The  contract  for  the  building  of  a  jail  was 
let  in  1819  to  John  S.  Graves,  with  Irvin  Morris,  Milton 
Ladd,  Alfred  Bridges  and  James  Crunk  as  bondsmen;  the 
amount  of  the  bond  was  $1,000.00.  The  jail  was  to  be  of 
logs,  two  stories,  with  an  outside  stairway  and  platform. 
For  some  reason  the  jail  was  not  built  until  1820,  and  Ivy 
Reynolds  was  the  contractor  with  Irvin  Morris,  Milton  Ladd 
Squire  Choat  and  William  Hendry  as  security  at  a  cost  to 
the  county  of  $849.00.  It  can  not  be  stated  whether  this  is 
the  same  jail  or  not,  but  there  was  a  log  jail  that  stood  in  a 
low  place,  between  where  the  library  stands  and  the  court 


66 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


house,  in  1851.  It  was  still  standing  some  years  later  as 
.Mrs.  Fanny  Jackson  as  a  little  girl  remembers  a  man  by  the 
name  of  Tice,  who  was  a  prisoner,  setting  it  on  fire.  The 
jail  that  did  duty  for  the  county  before  the  present  one  was 
built,  stood  near  the  corner  of  fourth  and  Locust  streets 
.and  not  a  great  distance  from  the  site  of  the  present  one. 
It  was  built  of  logs,  had  two  stories  and  an  outside  stair- 
way, similar,  no  doubt,  to  the  first  one.  This  county  was 
without  a  jail  for  some  time  and  prisoners  were  kept  in  ad- 
joining county  jails.  The  present  brick  jail  was  erected  in 
1887,  at  a  cost  of  $5,000.00.  There  is  also  a  dwelling  ad- 
joining it  in  which  the  jailor  lives. 


COURT  HOUSE 


CUSTOMS 

PART  III 

When  civilized  or  semi-civilized  man  set  foot  in  a  new 
country,  he  brought  with  him  ax,  dog  and  gun.  These 
weapons  meant  food,  and  safety.  In  the  early  day  when 
one  entered  a  home,  somewhere  he  saw  a  gun  rack,  usually 
over  the  door,  and  there  were  just  as  many  guns  as  male 
members  of  the  family  who  were  large  enough  to  handle 
them.  In  those  pioneer  days  hotels  were  few  and  far  be- 
tween, and  many  times  the  traveler  was  forced  to  take 
shelter  in  an  isolated  farmhouse.  The  story  is  told  of  a 
traveler  stopping  at  a  farm  house  for  the  night ;  about  dusk 
a  stalwart  young  man  came  into  the  room  and  stacked  his 
gun.  Soon  another  and  another  came  until  there  were  five 
or  six.  The  traveler  was  paralyzed  with  fright  thinking  he 
had  fallen  among  a  den  of  murders,  but  knew  not  how  to 
escape.  When  bedtime  came  the  father  took  up  the  Book 
read  a  chapter  and  all  kneeled  in  prayer.  The  travelers 
fears  vanished  and  he  slept  as  peacefully  as  if  in  his 
mother's  trundle  bed.  This  incident  may  not  have  happen- 
ed in  Johnson  County  but  it  could  have. 

Just  as  the  head  of  the  house  brought  his  tools  of  war- 
fare to  a  new  country  the  housewife  brought  hers.  The 
spinning  wheel,  the  cards,  and  loom.  The  looms  were 
larger  and  more  cumbersome  than  those  now  in  use,  but 
were  very  much  on  the  same  order.  Home  manufacture 
of  cloths  has  long  since  been  discarded,  but  coverlets  of 
wool  and  rag  rugs  are  still  woven  in  the  county.  Everyone 
does  not  know  the  process  of  putting  in  cloth  in  a  hand-loom 
but  if  they  should  be  obliged  to  separate  warp  a  thread  at  a 
time  and  hand  it  to  someone  on  the  other  side  of  the  gear  of 
a  loom,  they  would  possibly  appreciate  more  fully  the  debt 
we  owe  the  pioneer.  Please  don't  think  that  the  cards  the 
frontier  mother  brought,  were  the  little  pasteboards  decor- 
ated with  colored  spots  that  are  now  so  necesary  to  the 
overworked  housewife  to  divert  her  mind  from  the  cares 
of  her  large  family.  The  cards  the  pioneer  woman  had  were 
thin  pieces  of  wood  about  six  by  twelve  inches  with  small 
steel  pins  on  one  side  and  were  used  for  carding  wool  and 


68  A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


cotton.  They  had  a  flat  handle  about  the  middle  of  the  card 
so  that  one  could  hold  a  card  in  each  hand.  The  cotton  or 
wool  was  put  on  these  little  sharp  pins  one  held  firmly  while 
the  other  was  rubbed  across  until  the  material  was  all 
smoothed  out.  Then  it  was  gently  folded  together  into  a 
lovely  soft  roll.  This  was  attached  to  the  spindle  of  the 
spinning  wheel  and  was  pulled  out  into  a  thread  with  one 
hand  while  the  other  one  buzzed  the  big  wheel  and  twisted 
the  thread.  This  process  was  continued  and  soon  a  large 
broach  of  fine  or  coarse  thread  for  kniting  or  weaving  was 
ready.  The  spinning  wheel  had  a  body,  a  large  and  small 
wheel,  a  head,  a  gear,  and  a  spindle. 

The  body  was  raised  on  legs  to  a  height  convenient 
for  one  to  walk  on  the  floor  since  it  required  a  great 
deal  of  walking  turning  the  big  wheel  and  pulling  out  the 
roll,  all  at  the  same  time,  and  strict  attention  to  your  work, 
to  make  the  thread  the  size  one  desired.  There  was  no  button 
to  press  or  lever  to  raise  to  regulate  the  hand  manufacture. 
The  coloring  and  dyeing  were  also  done  at  home  and  in  some 
instances  the  indigo  for  coloring  the  blues  was  raised  in 
the  garden.  Indigo  blue,  madder,  cochineal  red,  and  cop- 
peras were  the  principal  colors.  The  following  incident 
related  by  an  elderly  lady  of  the  county  will  corroborate  the 
statement  about,  at  least  one  of  the  home  dyes.  She  said 
she  was  married  the  summer  of  1853  and  moved  into  a  new 
neighborhood.  The  following  Sunday,  she  and  her  husband 
went  to  church.  The  services  were  held  in  a  brush  arbor, 
made  by  putting  leafy  branches  of  trees  on  a  large  frame 
of  forked  poles  for  supports,  and  straight  poles  laid  across 
them.  This  shielded  the  people  from  the  sun  and  used  be- 
cause there  were  no  church  houses.  The  minister  this  day 
wore  trousers  made  from  home  woven  cotton  cloth,  colored 
with  copperas  and  was  barefoot. 

The  thrifty  housewife  was  not  content  to  bring  the 
mere  necessities  to  the  new  country,  but  brought  seed,  both 
garden  and  flower,  also  scions  of  roses,  fruits  and  herbs, 
which  she  divided  with  her  neighbors.  Instead  of  looking 
over  the  multitude  of  catalogues  that  flood  the  farm  house 
in  early  spring  and  late  winter  at  the  present,  the  women 
folks  visited  each  other  and  took  home  plants,  seeds  and 
shrubs  for  the  early  planting.  Mrs.  Harrell  who  came  here 
with  her  family  from  Kentucky  about  1820,  was  one  of 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY  69 


these  pioneer  mothers  who  brought  supplies  from  her  yard 
and  garden  of  her  native  state.  She  was  the  mother  of  the 
late  Mrs.  Minnie  Bain,  long  a  resident  of  this  county  and 
she  is  the  authority  for  this  story  of  thrift.  The  old  fashion 
garden  and  its  walk  through  the  middle  with  marigold, 
larkspur,  flowering  almond,  and  fortune  grass,  camomile, 
bachelor  buttons,  garden  pinks  and  all  the  old  fashion 
flowers  on  either  side,  and  the  long  weedless  rows  of  veget- 
ables beyond  the  flowers  was  the  pride  of  the  home  maker 
of  that  time,  and  no  neighborly  visit  was  complete  during 
the  growing  season  till  one  had  been  down  the  garden  walk, 
admired  the  many  varieties  of  kind  and  color,  and  carried 
away  a  huge  bouquet. 

While  these  pioneer  mothers  were  adepts  in  the  textile 
art,  they  not  only  made  the  cloth  but  designed  and  built 
their  own  gowns,  tailored  their  husband's  and  sons' 
dress  suits,  and  had  ever  at  hand  snowy  linens  for  the  tables 
and  beds  which  were  the  fruits  of  their  labor.  Quilts,  blan- 
kets, linens  and  feather  beds  for  the  daughter's  wedding 
dower  which  was  in  lieu  of  the  hope  chest  of  the  present. 
The  following  will  ilustrate  the  resourcefulness  of  the  pio- 
neer women  of  this  county.  An  early  historian  of  this  state 
says,  "John  Grammar  was  elected  to  the  first  Legislature 
of  the  Territory  from  Johnson  County.  It  is  said  after  his 
election  he  and  family  gathered  a  large  quantity  of  hickory 
nuts,  took  them  to  the  salt  mines  and  traded  them  for  blue 
strouding,  like  the  Indians  wore  for  breech  cloths.  The 
neighbor  women  gathered  in  to  make  up  the  cloth.  It  was 
discovered  that  he  had  not  purchased  quite  enough  cloth 
to  make  a  full  suit,  and  after  measuring  and  counseling  for 
a  time,  they  decided  to  make  a  bob-tail  coat  and  a  long  pair 
of  leggings.  Dressed  in  these  he  appeared  at  the  seat  of 
government,  continuing  to  wear  his  primitive  suit  during 
the  greater  part  of  the  session." 

Other  trades  beside  the  manufacture  of  cloth  were  re- 
quired of  the  pioneers.  The  first  settler  tanned  the  leather, 
made  their  own  shoes,  saddles,  bridles  and  harness. 
Joseph  McCorcle  owned  a  tan  yard  on  the  east  side  of  town 
in  1821.  A  description  of  an  old  road  says  that  it  was 
where  the  road  crossed  the  street  leading  south  from  town. 
The  remains  of  this  old  yard  could  be  seen  there  as  late  as 
1875.     It  was  operated  in  later  years  by  Duke  Smith.     G. 


70  A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 

N.  Thacker  had  a  tannery  in  this  county  as  late  as  1890, 
near  Pond  on  the  Simpson  road. 

The  law  allowing  imprisonment  for  debt  was  practically 
abolished  in  the  United  States  by  the  beginning  of  the  nin- 
teenth  century,  but  Johnson  County  kept  up  the  practice 
much  later.  If  one  should  visit  Edinburg,  Scotland,  he 
would  be  shown  the  debtor's  line,  which  Sir  Walter  Scott 
raced,  many  times,  madly  to  cioss  to  escape  the  debtor's 
prison,  while  he  was  writing  the  Waverly  Novels.  Johnson 
County  had  no  such  line,  but  we  find  Peter  Prow  and  Cath- 
erine Crice  confined  for  debt  as  late  as  1816.  The  following 
is  a  description  of  the  plot  of  the  prison  grounds  as  they 
stood  in  old  Elvira  at  that  time,  "Beginning  at  a  large  pop- 
lar in  Judge  Finney's  lot,  running  north  46  degrees,  east  20 
poles,  to  a  high  black  gum  stump,  in  Issac  Worley's  lot, 
north  38  degrees,  west  80  poles  to  a  large  sweet  gum  just  be- 
low the  spring,  then  south  50  degrees  and  west  22  poles  to  a 
large  white  oak,  then  342  degrees  east  81  poles  to  the  be- 
ginning. Elvira,  Johnson  County.  Illinois,  1816."  Judging 
from  papers  served  in  the  court  proceedings,  Prow  was  im- 
prisoned at  the  suit  of  Weir  and  Campbell.  Catherine 
Crice's  suit  was  brought  by  parties  from  Kentucky. 

This  was  not  the  only  law  enforced  in  this  county  for 
the  benefit  of  the  merchant.  The  estate  of  J.  W.  Gore  paid 
two  dollars  interest  on  nine  dollars  and  seventy  cents  to  W. 
E.  Morris  for  merchandise  as  late  as  1853.  There  is  no 
especial  spite  harbored  against  our  ancestors  that  their  mis- 
takes should  be  arrayed  in  print,  but  one  would  scarcely 
think  that  they  trafficked  in  human  flesh.  Such,  however,  is 
the  case.  We  have  only  to  turn  to  the  records  made  in  the 
courts  to  find  our  early  residents  bought  and  sold  slaves  up 
to  1814,  although  Congress  in  1784  passed  a  law  saying, 
"There  shall  be  no  more  slavery  nor  involuntary  servitude 
in  any  of  the  states  made  from  the  Northwest  Territory." 

As  has  been  stated,  this  county,  at  its  early  settlement 
abounded  in  game  and  wild  animals.  In  fact,  all  kinds  of 
animals  found  in  the  Temperate  Zone  were  here.  The  wolf 
was  an  enemy  to  the  early  settlers  and  a  bounty  for  wolf 
scalps  was  paid  by  the  county  at  the  rate  of  fifty  cents  to 
two  dollars.  Since  the  gun  was  so  necessary  at  that  time, 
there  must  be  amunition  and  powder  must  be  made  and  one 
could  not  go  out  and  buy  shells  ready  to  put  in  his  gun. 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY  71 


Sometimes  the  ingredients  for  the  powder  was  hard  to  get. 
Salt  peter  was  necessary  for  the  making  of  powder  and 
great  was  the  joy  of  the  neighborhoods  when  a  Mr.  Mercer 
discovered  salt  peter  in  a  cave  in  Cedar  Bluff.  This  is  the 
bluff  where  the  Charles  stone  quarry  is  located.  Salt 
peter  was  found  in  several  other  places  in  the  county  in 
small  quantities.  These  first  settlers  manufactured  their 
own  bullets  as  well.  Running  bullets,  as  the  process  was 
called.  Lead  was  melted  and  poured  into  molds  made  some- 
thing like  a  nut  cracker,  that  opened  and  shut  on  a  hinge. 
The  melted  lead  was  let  cool  a  minute-  the  molds  were 
opened,  the  neck  of  the  bullet  cut  off,  and  "there  you  are." 
Each  one  meant  a  vension  steak,  a  baked  turkey  or  some 
other  delicious  game  for  the  coming  meal. 

The  first  merchants,  possibly  storekeepers  would  be  a 
better  name,  as  that  was  what  they  were  called  in  those 
days,  handled  very  little  dry  goods  or  shoes,  as  everyone 
made  these  things  for  themselves.  Their  stock  consisted, 
principally  of  sugar,  coffee,  tea  and  liquor,  some  of  the 
necessary  articles  not  raised  on  the  farm  or  manufactured 
in  the  home.  One  can  scarcely  realize  how  few  things 
were  necessities,  when  money  was  scarce  and  there  were  no 
markets  for  products.  Real  money  wras  not  always  at  hand, 
in  fact,  salt,  salt  peter,  cattle,  hogs,  furs,  deer  pelts,  corn 
and  other  things  of  this  kind  were  used  in  trade  instead  of 
money.  In  one  instance,  an  early  resident  relates,  he  used 
pumpkins  in  trade  with  the  Indians,  getting  two  pounds  of 
coffee  for  one  Pumpkin,  the  coffee  had  been  issued  to  the 
Indians  by  the  government.  Coon  skins  were  also  legal 
tender,  for  some  time  after  our  organization,  as  the  follow- 
ing story  will  illustrate.  The  custom  of  selling  whiskey,  as 
has  been  mentioned,  was  engaged  in  by  a  great  many  of 
our  citizens.  One  of  our  county  officers  had  stocked  up  and 
was  retailing  at  a  quart  for  a  coon  skin.  His  store  was  the 
room  in  which  he  slept,  and  when  he  bought  a  skin,  he  threw 
it  under  the  bed.  There  was  a  large  crack  between  the  logs 
of  the  outside  wall  and  some  practical  joker  brought  in  a 
coon  skin  and  bought  a  quart  of  whiskey.  Some  one  went 
outside,  slipped  the  skin  from  under  the  bed  and  sold  it  to 
the  officer  again,  not  only  once  but  a  good  many  times  dur- 
ing the  day.  He  finally  decided  he  had  quite  a  number  of 
skins  and  went  to  count  them,  much  to  his  surprise  there 
was  only  one  skin. 


72  A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


The  early  stores  were  located  at  cross  roads  or  some 
farmer  would  keep  a  stock  of  goods  in  a  small  house  in  the 
yard  near  his  home,  if  the  nearby  settlers  would  justify.  In 
time  the  peddler  made  his  appearance.  He  would  take  his 
wares  in  a  wagon  or  cart,  travel  through  the  country  and 
exchange  them  for  such  things  as  the  settlers  had  to  trade 
and  take  the  produce  to  some  town  or  settlement  on  the 
river.  The  merchant  with  his  pack  on  his  back  also  invaded 
the  country  and  tempted  the  house  wife  with  his  dress 
goods,  laces  and  bright  colored  ribbons.  Giles  Stewart 
was  the  first  person  to  take  out  retail  license  to  vend  mer 
chandise  in  this  county  in  1813,  and  Joshua  Gross-  the  sec 
ond  receiving  his  license  in  1814. 

This  county  was  rather  a  long  time  in  getting  access 
to  markets.  Mrs.  Mary  E.  Chapman  who  began  housekeep 
ing  in  the  early  fifties,  said  she  sold  eggs  at  five  cents  per 
dozen  and  hens  for  two  dollars  per  dozen  regardless  of 
weight.  This  was  before  railroads  had  reached  us,  but  al- 
most unbelievable,  since  the  high  prices  which  were  paid 
for  such  things  during  the  World  War.  Eggs  sold  for 
eighty-five  cents  per  dozen  and  hens  at  thirty  cents  a  pound 
in  our  home  markets. 

Tavern  rates  in  1828,  which  were  regulated  by  law, 
were,  meals  twenty-five  cents,  lodging  twelve  and  a  half 
cents,  half  pint  whiskey,  six  and  a  half  cents,  half  pint 
brandy,  twelve  and  a  half  cents,  keeping  a  horse  with  feed, 
corn,  hay  or  fodder,  twenty-five  cents,  single  feed  for  a 
horse,  twelve  and  a  half  cents.  These  prices  as  against  two 
and  one  half  dollars  for  one  half  pint  whiskey,  from  fifty  to 
seventy-five  cents  per  meal  in  the  county,  in  1924,  show  how 
prices  have  increased. 

Much  of  our  revenue  was  gained  from  the  manufacture 
of  liquor.  All  merchants  and  tavern  keepers  dealt  in  it,  and 
home-brew  was  not  unknown,  as  the  court  records  will 
show.  One  William  Conway  is  convicted  of  stealing  two 
dollars  worth  of  methiglon.  This  was  an  entirely  new  com- 
modity and  whether  dry  goods  or  groceries,  was  difficult  to 
determine.  Finally  a  person  was  found  who  explained  that 
it  was  a  beer  made  from  persimmons.  The  name  of  the 
maker  of  the  beer  could  not  be  deciphered.  The  penalty 
was  to  pay  the  owner  four  dollars  and  a  four  dollar  fine  to 
the  court.    From  this  it  appears  that  the  makers  of  hon  e 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY  73 


brew  at  the  present  have  nothing  on  the  pioneers,  except 
the  present  manufacturer  would  pay  a  fine  instead  of  the 
one  taking  the  beer. 

A  law  of  that  time  which  is  not  now  in  force,  and 
doubtless,  made  life  hard  for  many  orphans  was  the  binding 
out  of  such  children  as  had  no  parents,  by  the  court.  At  a 
court  held  in  September,  1816,  Cyrus  Butler,  an  orphan  bcv 
about  nine  years  old  was  bound  to  Thomas  C.  Paterson.  lr» 
a  court  held  the  same  year  Cynthia  Davis,  a  minor  daughter 
of  George  Davis-  deceased,  was  bound  to  Jacob  Hunsaker 
Jr.,  until  she  arrives  at  the  age  of  eighteen  years,  and  the 
said  Jacob  gave  bond  and  security  in  the  sum  of  one  hundred 
dollars.  At  the  December  session,  the  application  of  Mathew 
Sparks  to  have  an  orphan  girl  by  the  name  of  Nancy  Col- 
lins bound  to  him,  was  granted,  on  condition  that  the  said 
Sparks  file  a  bond  with  security  to  be  approved  by  the  court, 
in  the  sum  of  one  hundred  dollars,  to  have  the  said  Nancy, 
well  and  carefully  treated,  clothed  and  given  one  year's 
schooling.  When  she  arrives  at  the  age  of  eighteen  years, 
to  give  her  a  bed  worth  thirty  dollars,  a  good  suit  of  clothes 
or  a  full  dress  fit  to  wear  on  Sunday  or  holidays,  over  and 
above  her  common  wearing  apparel.  The  said  Nancy  is 
supposed  to  be  about  eight  years  old.  Another  order  is 
that  Jeremiah  Collins,  an  orphan  boy  of  about  12  years  old. 
be  bound  unto  Giles  Parmerly,  until  he  arrives  at  the  age 
of  21,  and  that  the  said  Parmerly  execute  a  bond  of  one 
hundred  dollars  for  his  well  treating,  clothing,  and  taking 
care  of  the  said  Jeremiah  until  he  is  of  age,  and  that  he 
will  cause  him  within  that  time  to  be  learned  to  read,  write 
and  cipher,  as  far  as  the  rule  of  three.  And  when  free  that 
he  will  give  him  a  good  horse,  saddle  and  bridle  of  a  com- 
mon good  quality,  which  together  with  the  horse  shall  be 
worth  eighty  dollars.  The  security  for  the  performance  of 
same  to  be  approved  by  the  court. 

Such  are  a  few  of  the  obsolete  laws  and  customs  which 
governed  our  forebears. 

The  first  animal  that  was  used  to  till  the  soil  or  save 
man  from  long  tramps  of  distant  journeys  was  the  ox  which 
served  our  pioneers  in  this  as  well  as  all  other  frontier 
countries.  The  wagons  in  which  many  of  the  first  settlers 
came  to  this  county  were  drawn  by  oxen.  These  wagons 
had  long  beds  which  scooped  up  at  each  end  and  were  called 


74  A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


schooners.  They  had  long1  hoops  fastened  on  the  side  board 
and  extending  over  the  top,  which  were  covered  with  cloth. 
This  protected  the  lamily  and  its  possessions  from  the 
weather  while  traveling.  Many  immigrants  to  this  new 
country  did  not  even  nave  wagons  but  transpoited  their 
housenold  goods  on  their  own  oacks  or  that  01  a  norse  or 
cow  or  often  in  a  two  wheeled  cart  drawn  by  the  family 
cow.  Oxen  were  used  to  draw  wagons,  carts  and  plows  but 
not  often  to  lide.  J.  J.  Simpson,  a  native  of  this  county  and 
nearing  eighty-six  yeais  old  tells  the  story  of  riding  an  ox. 
when  a  small  boy  irom  his  father's  farm  near  Simpson  to 
De  Soto,  Illinois,  a  aistance  oi  fifty  miles.  After  the  ox 
as  a  domestic  animal,  the  horse  came  into  use.  He  was 
more  fleet  of  loot  and  lessened  distances,  when  roads 
came  into  use  the  ox  wagons  and  carts  were  succeeded  by 
two  horse  wagons,  hacks  and  buggies.  Mr.  George  Elkins, 
born  in  this  county  in  1825,  says  he  was  twenty-one  years 
old  before  he  saw  a  wagon  and  team  of  horses.  This  team 
was  owned  by  Stephen  Hendricks,  and  the  second  one  he 
remembeis  was  owned  by  Henry  Mathis.  Mathis  hauled  a 
load  of  shelled  corn  to  Vienna  for  Mr.  Elkins  which  he  sold 
for  ten  cents  per  bushel. 

One  wonders  in  this  time  of  rapid  transit  how  people  of 
that  period  made  a  journey  of  any  length.  The  automobile 
enables  one  to  go  from  place  to  piace  in  a  few  hours  which 
formerly  took  a  whole  day  or  two.  This  machine  has  dis- 
placed most  all  other  modes  of  local  travel;  also  the  horse 
for  plowing  and  hauling  to  a  great  extent.  One  would 
scarcely  think  an  ox  would  evolve  into  an  automobile,  but 
such  appears  to  be  the  case.  J.  F.  Farris,  an  implement 
dealer  of  Vienna  owned  the  first  automobile  in  the  county, 
about  1907.  It  was  an  auto  carriage  and  some  what  differ- 
ent from  the  models  of  1924.  The  number  of  machines  in- 
creased rapidly  in  the  county  till  now,  1924,  there  are  666. 

In  this  day  of  railroads,  automobiles,  and  flying 
machines,  one  can  scarcely  realize  the  inconvenience  and 
infrequency  of  travel  to  any  distant  point.  Mrs.  Fannie 
Jackson,  daughter  of  John  Bain,  tells  the  story  that  on  one 
occasion  her  father  was  going  to  Louisville*  Kentucky,  to 
buy  goods  and  her  mother  was  going  along  for  the  trip.  All 
the  neighbors  came  in  to  tell  her  good-bye,  and  the  children 
from  a  nearby  select  school  came.     It  was  considered  a 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY  75 


wonderful  journey  at  that  time  and  many  accidents  might 
befall  Mrs.  Bain,  while  on  the  journey.  Hence  the  solicita- 
tion of  her  friends.  Another  incident  was  related  by  an  old 
citizen  regarding  one  of  our  early  merchants  in  connection 
with  Louisville,  which  was,  that  this  merchant  went  as 
usual  to  purchase  his  season's  stock  of  goods.  A  salesman 
waiting  on  him  asked  him  what  per  cent  he  calculated  to 
make  on  his  sales.  He  replied,  he  knew  nothing  about  per 
cent  but  when  he  bought  an  article  for  one  dollar,  he  sold 
it  at  home  for  two.  Some  of  his  decendants  must  have  been 
doing  business  during  the  World  War. 

Farming  in  a  primitive  way,  of  course,  was  the  occupa- 
tion of  the  early  settler.  Corn  was  tne  most  generally 
grown  grain  in  the  beginning  as  it  was  cultivated  with  a 
hoe.  The  grains  were  dropped  in  hills  or  crosses  made  with 
a  plow.  The  wheat  was  sown  broadcast  and  cut  with  a 
sickle.  One  of  the  first  wheat  cradles  used  in  this  county 
was  made  by  Ishmael  Veach.  He  brought  the  scythe  or  cut- 
ting part  from  Kentusky  and  made  the  framework  himself 
in  1825.  This  more  easy  method  spread  and  continued  to 
develop  until  the  reaper  was  invented.  Now  the  larmer 
hitches  up  his  tractor  to  his  wheat  machine,  drives  around 
the  field  a  few  times  and  the  thing  is  done.  Originally  the 
wheat  was  tramped  or  flailed  out,  but  as  population  in- 
creased and  markets  became  accessible  the  modern  inven- 
tions were  brought  in.  The  Axley  Brothers,  Jack  and  Jim, 
as  they  were  familiarly  called,  owned  and  operated  one  of 
the  first  threshing  machines  in  the  county,  in  the  neighbor- 
hood of  West  Eden.  These  threshers  were  called  ground 
hogs  and  the  power  was  furnished  by  horses.  The  man 
who  could  "holler"  the  loudest  was  elected  to  drive,  and  one 
could  tell  where  the  thresher  was  located  by  the  noise  of  the 
driver  then,  as  you  may  now  know  by  the  whistle  of  the 
engine. 

The  raising  of  grain  for  his  own  use  was  all  the  early 
farmer  undertook.  There  were  no  markets  near  and  no 
transportation  for  any  products.  A  few  hogs  and  cattle,  for 
home  consumption,  and  to  supply  the  local  market,  were  all 
he  needed,  and  the  range  was  sufficient  for  the  raising  of 
these.  The  farmer  fenced  in  his  field  then,  to  keep  the 
stock  out,  and  not  his  entire  farm,  as  now,  to  keep  the 
stock  in,  consequently  not  so  much  fencing  was  needed, 


76  A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


which  was  fortunate  as  all  fences  were  made  of  rails  like 
Abraham  Lincoln  split  and  rail  making  was  a  very  labor- 
ious job.  The  cattle  and  hogs  ranged  at  will  and  had  cuts 
on  the  ears,  called  marks.  Each  farmer  had  his  own  pe- 
culiar way  of  marking  his  stock.  These  were  recorded  in 
the  County  Clerk's  office  so  as  to  make  it  easy  to  settle  any 
dispute  regarding  ownership  of  live  stock.  The  mark  of 
S.  J.  Chapman  recorded  in  1820  was  ''under  half  crop  off  of 
right  ear  and  a  slit  in  the  left."  In  1814,  Benjamin  Peters' 
mark,  a  half  crop  out  of  each  ear  and  underneath  a  bit  out 
of  the  corner  of  the  right  ear. 

The  making  of  sorghum  for  home  use  has  been  an  in- 
dustry of  this  county  since  long  before  the  Civil  War.  To 
illustrate  how  customs  and  good  things  spread  from  com- 
munity to  community  the  story  of  the  introduction  of  sorg- 
hum making  in  this  county,  will  not,  it  is  hoped,  be  amiss. 
Miss  Mary  Smith,  a  young  lady  of  West  Eden,  made  a  visit 
to  Judge  Hugh  McGee's  in  Pulaski  County,  from  where  she 
brought  some  stalks  of  sorghum  cane,  wnich  she  exhibited 
at  a  gathering  in  the  neighborhood.  Pleasant  Axley  of  the 
same  locality  went  over  to  the  Judges  the  following  spring, 
and  secured  some  cane  seed.  That  was  before  the  halcyon 
days  of  government  distribution  of  seed.  That  year  he 
raised  some  cane  but  having  no  machinery,  one  of  his  neigh- 
bors, J.  P.  West,  made  a  crusher  to  extract  the  juice  from 
the  cane  and  Uncle  Pleas.,  as  he  was  called  by  his  neighbors* 
borrowed  all  the  wash  kettles  in  reach  to  boil  it  down.  The 
molasses  was  not  very  satisfactory,  being  black  from  the 
iron  kettles.  He  later  procured  the  proper  machinery  and 
thus  began  the  manufacture  of  the  famous  Johnson  County 
sorghum. 

Salt,  although  needed  in  small  quantities,  is  a  very 
necessary  article  in  household  economy.  The  salt  mines  at 
Equality  was  the  nearest  point  where  that  article  could  be 
obtained  by  the  residents  of  Southern  Illinois.  Since  there 
was  no  other  means  of  transportation,  settlers  had  to  go  on 
horse  back,  in  wagons  or  cart,  and  many  times  one  person 
would  bring  enough  for  himself  and  other  neighbors  to  last 
a  year.  Before  wagons  and  wagon  roads  had  come  into  use 
the  salt  was  often  carried  in  bags  on  horse  back. 

Randolph  Casey,  whose  father  settled  here  in  1808,  said 
when  a  young  man  he  went  as  far  as  Equality  to  work  by 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY  77 


the  day  for  fifty  cents  per  day  at  the  salt  works,  or  at  other 
times  he  would  go  to  the  river  with  other  men  and  cut  cord 
wood,  which  was  used  for  fuel  on  boats  at  fifty  cents  a  cord. 
They  had  to  pay  at  that  time,  fifty  cents  per  yard  for  calico 
and  factory  which  is  known  now  as  domestic.  He  further 
says  that  when  his  father  first  settled  here,  they  had  to 
house  their  pigs,  sheep  and  young  calves  to  keep  the  wolves 
from  killing  them. 

While  the  men  were  learning  in  the  school  of  experience 
the  women  were  not  idle.  Our  first  mothers  manufactured 
their  own  light.  The  most  primitive  light  was  a  lamp  made 
by  twisting  soft  cotton  rags  or  thread  into  a  wick,  immers- 
ing it  in  a  vessel  filled  with  grease  and  leaving  one  end  of 
this  wick  sticking  up  over  the  edge  of  the  vessel,  so  that  it 
would  burn.  Next  the  tallow  candle  was  introduced  as  a 
much  more  convenient  light.  A  candle  mold  was  a  part  of 
the  furnishings  of  every  household.  These  molds  were 
made  of  tin  and  large  enough  to  hold  six  or  a  dozen  candles. 
The  wicks,  like  the  grease  lamps  were  of  soft  cotton,  and 
were  pulled  through  the  molds  and  made  tight  at  each  end. 
Then,  oh  what  a  feat !  If  mother  would  let  you  pour  in  the 
melted  tallow,  fill  them  full,  let  them  stand  till  cool,  clip 
the  knots  and  out  slips  some  firm,  smooth  candles,  by  which 
the  family  could  read,  sew  or  study.  The  candle  was  fol- 
lowed by  the  oil  lamp,  but  now  the  Delco  has  out-classed 
them  all,  and  with  a  little  engine,  hidden  around  somewhere 
and  puffing  a  short  time  each  day,  the  house,  barn,  and 
outhouses  are  made  almost  as  light  as  day. 

For  many  years  all  cooking  was  done  by  the  open  fire, 
often  only  one  fireplace  to  a  home,  to  heat  the  room  and 
cook  the  meals.  The  families  who  could  afford  it  had  the 
cranes  or  pieces  of  iron,  both  long  and  short,  with  a  hook 
on  either  end,  one  to  hook  over,  the  long  iron  rod,  extending 
across  the  fireplace  from  jam  to  jam;  the  other  to  hang  the 
pot  or  kettle  on.  The  bread  was  cooked  on  a  rock  by  the  fire, 
in  a  skillet  or  oven,  if  these  utensils  could  be  had.  The 
skillets  and  ovens  were  made  of  iron  and  had  short  legs, 
which  raised  them  high  enough  to  put  hot  coals  under  them. 
A  heavy  iron  lid  fitted  over  them  which  was  also  covered 
with  hot  coals.  Sometimes  the  handy  father  would  build 
a  Dutch  oven  where  bread  and  pastry  were  baked  in  large 
quantities.  The  cook  stove  finally  made  its  appearance  even 
in  Johnson  County,  though  not  in  its  present  form.    In  the 


78  A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


first  ones  the  back  part  was  higher  than  the  front  and  was 
called  a  step  stove,  others  had  the  oven  on  the  back  part, 
with  a  door  on  one  end  and  looked  very  much  like  an  old 
fashioned  wood  heating  stove  set  on  the  back  of  the  cook 
stove.  Owen  Peterson,  father-in-law  of  F.  B.  Thacker,  liv- 
ing then  in  the  southwest  section  of  the  county,  owned,  if 
not  the  first,  at  least  one  of  the  first  cook  stoves  in  the 
county.  It  was  a  great  curosity  and  people  came  for  miles 
to  see  it  work. 

SOCIAL 

The  most  early  social  gatherings  were  doubtless,  Mus- 
ter days.  An  old  lady  born  in  North  Carolina,  1809,  and 
reared  in  Georgia  has  described  these  gatherings.  She  said 
Muster  days  were  occasions  of  great  gayety  and  good  times, 
in  the  mother  states.  The  people  dressed  in  their  best, 
turned  out  enmasse  pleasure  bent  to  the  Militia  drills.  It 
was  a  holiday  for  the  public  almost  as  much  as  the  "hang- 
ings" of  that  period.  Instead  of  lemonade  and  peanut 
venders,  ginger  bread  and  cider  were  sold  on  the  grounds. 
Since  we  had  the  Militia  before  we  had  county  organization, 
this  custom  likely  came  with  the  settlers  and  they  observed 
it  in  their  usual  manner.  In  1827  the  elections  were  ordered 
to  be  held,  if  no  other  place  had  been  specified,  at  the  places 
appointed  for  the  Militia  Musters.  The  first  election  held 
in  the  county  was  at  the  house  of  John  Bradshaw  in  Elvira, 
October  8,  9  and  10,  1813,  for  the  purpose  of  going  into  the 
second  grade  of  territory.  At  a  glance  one  would  think 
three  days  was  a  long  time  to  hold  an  election  for  so  limited 
a  population,  but  when  one  considers  that  the  voters  had  to 
come  from  the  Ohio  River  on  the  east,  the  Mississippi  on 
the  west,  Cairo  and  Thebes  on  the  south,  the  borders  of 
Jackson,  Williamson  and  Saline  on  the  north,  the  time 
allotted  was  short  enough.  One  would  not  consider  ordi- 
narily an  election  in  the  light  of  a  social  gathering,  but 
imagine  if  you  can.  men  meeting  here  perhaps  for  the  first 
time,  how  eager  they  would  be  to  gather  all  the  news  from 
each  other's  little  sphere,  as  each  settlement  was  almost 
a  world  within  itself,  with  no  roads,  mails,  railroads,  news- 
papers, telegraph,  or  radio. 

Public  sales  were  also  a  common  place  for  the  scattered 
population  to  meet.  Household  utensils  and  farming  imple- 
ments were  scarce  in  a  new  country  and  people  came  from 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY  79 


far  and  near  to  buy  anything  that  could  be  had  of  these 
conveniences.  There  was  always  plenty  of  free  whisky 
furnished  by  the  estate  of  the  deceased,  which  may  have 
had  something  to  do  with  the  number  attending  and  the  so- 
cialibility.  Really  it  doesn't  seem  fair  to  make  a  man  pay  tor 
the  treats  after  he  is  dead,  however,  we  only  have  to  look 
at  the  bills  of  the  admmstrator  to  realize  that  such  was  the 
case  in  early  times.  The  larger  the  sale,  the  more  liquor 
furnished. 

When  the  farms  of  the  county  were  being  cleared  and 
the  new  comers  were  establishing  their  homes  in  the  forests 
it  called  forth  many  gatherings.  The  neighbors  not  only 
lent  their  help  in  this  warfare,  but  participated  in  the 
pleasures  and  pastimes  of  the  period  as  well.  A  farmer 
would  spend  his  time  during  the  winter  months  cutting 
down  trees,  where  he  wanted." a  .'field,  making  the  smaller 
trees  and  large  branches  into  firewood.  -  The  boys  of  the 
family  (and  most  of  the  people  had  boys  in  those  days) 
would  pile  the  small  branches  into  heaps  called  brush  piles 
to  be  burned.  There  would  still  be  great  giants  .of  the 
forest  scattered  thickly  on  the  ground,  which  must  be 
rolled  into  heaps,  also  to  be  burned.  What  a  waste  this 
seems  to  us  at  the  present  time,  when  the  lack  of  timber  is 
so  keenly  felt.  The  idea  of  conservation  had  not  entered 
into  the  economic  plan  of  the  government  at  that  time,  not 
to  mention  those  of  the  Johnson  County  farmer.  The  fol- 
lowing is  a  part  of  an  article  copied  from  the  Johnson  Coun- 
ty Journal  of  August  5,  1878:  'The  writer  came  to  this 
county  in  1843.  He  says,  "the  first  log  rolling  I  ever  had 
there  were  twenty  or  thirty  hands,  they  came  with  out 
special  invitation.  From  ten  to  fifteen  acres  was  the  average 
size  of  farms.  The  range,  the  dog  and  gun  furnished  the 
living.  There  were  a  few  good  farmers  who  had  all  necessi- 
ties and  some  luxuries,  but  they  were  the  exception  and  not 
the  rule.  Thirty-five  years  later  the  county  is  one  continuous 
stretch  of  land  under  cultivation."  He  described  a  Sunday 
School  Convention  which  he  attended  in  earlier  times,  and 
estimated  the  crowd  at  two  thousand.  He  also  commented 
on  the  improvement  in  the  conduct  and  morals  of  the  citi- 
zens since  those  earlier  times. 

When  planting  time  came  near  the  neighbors  all  came 
in,  the  wives  to  help  with  the  cooking  and  quilting,  the 
men  to  roll  the  logs,  and  raise  the  new  house  or  barn.    Each 


80  A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


man  vied  with  the  other  to  show  his  strength.  It  meant 
much  in  those  days  to  be  considered  the  strongest  man  of 
the  neighborhood,  as  much  so,  as  being  on  Walter  Camp's 
All  American  football  team  does  now.  At  meal  time  the 
table  would  groan  with  good  things  to  eat,  and  after  the 
work  was  done  and  the  shades  of  evening  began  to  gather, 
some  one  present,  handy  with  the  fiddle  and  the  bow  would 
'tune  up/  Turkey  in  the  Straw,  Arkansaw  Traveler,  or 
Money  Musk  would  cause  the  feet  to  shuffle  and  partners 
for  a  quadrille  would  follow;  circle  all,  grand  trail  back, 
everybody  dance*  right  hand  to  partner,  grand  right  and 
left.  There  was  no  bunny  hug,  Boston  Dip,  or  shimmy; 
but  clean  wholesome  dances  marked  that  period. 

Latter  came  the  apple  cuttings  which  was  before  the  in- 
vention of  the  evaporator  and  apple  peeler.  The  apples 
must  be  peeled,  cut  and  dried  by  hand  for  market,  and  this 
must  be  done  while  the  sun  was  hot,  consequently  all  the 
young  folks  were  asked  in;  the  apples  peeled  and  cut  and 
the  pies  and  cakes  passed,  then  came  the  social  hour,  spent 
in  playing  snap,  drop  the  handkerchief,  blind  mans  buff, 
Rhoda  Beck  a  Lina  and  other  games.  At  present  the  apples 
are  sold  on  the  trees  before  they  are  well  grown  and  we  buy 
them  back  already  dried. 

In  those  olden  days  when  a  young  man  courted  a  girl 
he  usually  went  horseback,  when  he  took  her  to  an  apple 
cutting,  quilting  or  to  church  she  rode  behind  her  suitor 
on  his  horse.  Now  a  young  man  must  have  a  Packard  or 
a  Rolls  Royce,  for  the  young  ladies  will  not  even  deign  to 
ride  in  a  "tin  Lizzie."  The  husking  bee  must  not  be  for- 
gotten, the  main  feature  of  which  was,  that  each  young 
man  who  found  a  red  ear  of  corn  was  entitled  to  kiss  the 
prettiest  girl  present  and  strange  to  say,  the  same  girl  did 
not  receive  all  the  kisses.  In  the  social  gatherings  of  the 
olden  times  the  entertainment  took  the  form  of  some  favor 
or  help  to  the  hostess.  The  young  man  took  his  girl  be- 
hind him  on  his  prancing  steed  and  galloped  away  to  the 
neighbors  where  all  the  belles  and  beaus  were  gathered, 
not  just  "our  crowd"  but  all  the  respectable,  rich  and  poor 
of  the  community.  Some  other  games  beside  those  men- 
tioned, were  thimble,  stagecoach,  going  to  Jerusalem,  and 
selling  the  forfeits,  sometimes  cider  and  gingerbread  were 
served  instead  of  the  pie  and  cake,  but  the  young  people 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY  81 


dispersed  not  knowing  they  had  not  had  a  perfectly  splendid 
time.  Now  the  hostess  must  furnish  some  form  of  enter- 
tainment, such  as  bridge,  rook,  rummy  or  Mah  Jong,  and 
she  would  not  dare  serve  refreshments  other  than  expensive 
cakes,  creams,  drinks  and  ices  that  cost  a  days  hard  work 
of  preparation  and  a  sum  of  money.  Only  our  bunch  is 
invited  and  the  transportation  is  by  auto.  Such  were 
some  of  the  amusements  of  our  ancestors  and  who  shall 
say  they  were  not  just  as  interesting  and  refined  as  the 
present  ones. 

The  infair  was  an  old  time  custom  now  obsolete,  a 
couple  was  usually  married  at  home,  a  number  of  guests  in- 
vited. A  dinner  was  served  and  the  couple  spent  the  first 
night  at  the  bride's,  home.  The  next  day  was  called  the  in- 
fair;  the  bride  and  groom  went  to  the  home  of  the  groom's 
parents  where  all  the  neighbors  were  invited  to  spend  the 
day,  sometimes  this  was  even  a  more  elaborate  affair  than 
the  wedding.  Neighbors  and  friends  accompanied  the 
couple  on  the  second  day  journey,  usually  on  horseback, 
and  sometimes  it  was  a  long  procession  which  followed  the 
newlyweds.  No  doubt,  the  popularity  of  the  "wedding 
party"  had  much  to  do  with  its  length.  The  bride  usually 
wore  gray,  no  matter  whether  it  was  becoming  or  not.  The 
charivari,  a  barbarous  custom  of  that  time  as  well  as  this, 
was  indulged  in  by  the  young  folks  of  the  neighborhood. 
In  early  times  it  was  usually  conducted  by  those  not  bid  to 
the  celebration.  They  went  with  horns,  tin  pans,  and  all 
the  instruments  for  making  a  noise,  that  they  could  gather 
and  kept  up  the  "hullabaloo"  till  the  groom  came  out  and 
"treated."  Now  the  bride  and  groom  go  away  immediately 
after  the  ceremony,  that  is  if  they  have  not  slipped  away 
and  been  married  a  year  or  six  months  before  the  announce- 
ment. Their  friends  follow  them  to  the  station,  pelt  them 
with  rice,  placard  their  baggage  and  play  all  kinds  of  jokes 
on  them.  The  young  folks  still  reserve  the  right  to  chari- 
vari them,  even  if  they  should  stay  away  a  month.  "A 
runaway"  match  as  it  was  called,  often  occurred.  The 
story  of  one  is  told  in  these  words,  copied  from  an  old 
letter,  written  years  latter  (in  1901)  "I  stole  my  wife 
from  the  wash  place,  in  1875,  dressed  in  her  everyday 
clothes,  when  we  got  to  Mr.  D.  C.  Chapman's,  Brother 
Hiram  went  in  and  asked  Mrs.  Chapman  to  dress  my  wife 
in  her  clothes,  which  she  did,  we  went  on  to  Missouri  and 


l82  A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


were  married,  and  I  am  sending  you  this  present  in  remem- 
brance of  your  kindness."     Signed  H.  Wise. 

The  church  and  Sunday  School  did  not  become  factors 
in  the  newly  settled  Johnson  County  as  early  as  the  still 
and  the  jaiL  but  followed  more  slowly,  and  we  trust  with 
a  more  lasting  influence.  People  would  drive  for  miles  to 
church  and  the  families  living  near  the  church  had  the 
most  company,  if  they  were  hospitably  inclined.  They  in- 
vited those  who  lived  at  a  distance  until  sometimes  there 
were  as  many  as  fifty  guests.  The  tables  were  laden  with 
cold  ham,  baked  or  fried  chicken,  dressing,  and  huge  slices 
of  light  bread  baked  the  day  before  in  the  oven  or  near  the 
fireplace,  pies,  cakes,  jelly,  preserves;  well  you  can't  imagine 
unless  you  have  sometime  been  invited  just  how  much  and 
how  good  everything  was.  Old  Johnson  County  residents 
and  former  ones  know,  and  no  one  else  will  believe,  there- 
fore further  description  is  unnecessary.  Along  this  line  are 
gatherings  or  homecomings  observed  at  the  close  of  so 
many  of  our  rural  schools,  which,  of  course,  have  come  about 
since  the  days  of  free  schools.  It  is  a  delightful  custom 
where  all  the  former  pupils  are  invited.  The  patrons  fur- 
nish the  dinner  and  the  pupils  the  entertainment. 

One  great  social  with  our  people,  perhaps  not  with  the 
very  first  settlers,  but  a  custom  begun  early  and  followed 
religiously  until  a  few  years  ago,  was  the  free  barbecue. 
The  cattle,  sheep  and  hogs  were  furnished  by  the  neighbors. 
These  animals  were  dressed  the  day  before.  On  the  morn- 
ing of  the  day  of  the  feast,  men  versed  in  the  art,  began 
their  work  long  before  the  dawn  of  day.  The  animals  were 
roasted  whole  or  in  halves  over  a  hot  fire  which  was  built 
in  a  vat  or  hole  dug  out  in  the  ground.  The  animals  were 
turned  and  basted  with  a  dressing  until  by  noon  they  were 
a  delicious  viand  fit  for  a  king.  One  very  famous  barbecue 
was  held  at  Simpson,  1892.  There  were  said  to  have  been 
10,000  people  present.  Long  tables  had  been  spread,  under 
the  heavy  leaved  branches  in  the  grove,  with  bread,  salad, 
pickles,  cakes,  pies,  coffee  and  all  the  necessities  for  a  good 
dinner,  including  an  abundance  of  barbecued  meat. 

The  most  wonderful  part  of  the  story  is  that,  this  was 
all  free.  After  these  dinners  and  sometimes  before  the 
crowd  was  entertained  by  a  good  speaker,  a  minster,  a  can- 
didate, or  some  friend  of  the  candidate.    Every  body  visited 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY  83 


with  every  body  else,  meeting  those  who  lived  at  a  distance 
and  making  new  friends.  On  the  whole  these  were  pleasant 
days.  The  last  old  time  barbecue  that  was  held  in  Vienna 
was  during  the  Farmers  Institute,  1903>  when  more  than 
1000  people  were  present. 

At  an  old  settlers  reunion  held  in  Vienna,  1905,  more 
than  two  thousand  were  present.  The  oldest  married  couple 
was  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Robert  Hood,  who  had  been  married  fifty- 
six  years.  The  oldest  man  was  J.  M.  Benson,  82  years  old. 
The  oldest  woman,  Sarah  Butler,  99  years,  the  oldest  min- 
ister was  A.  W.  Carlton,  72  years.  The  oldest  citizen  native 
of  the  county  was  George  Elkins,  born  in  1825.  The  couple 
with  the  largest  family  was  Mr.  and  Mrs.  George  Jennings 
who  had  twelve  children. 

The  populace  of  this  county  were  naturally  a  "social 
set,"  perhaps  too  much  so  to  be  a  financial  success.  A  picnic 
was  at  one  time  a  favorite  way  of  celebrating  our  nation's 
birthday.  Large  handbills,  naming  the  place  which  was 
usually  the  county  seat,  advertising  free  ice  water  and  good 
speakers,  were  sent  out  weeks  before.  On  the  morning  of 
the  Fourth,  wagons,  buggies,  hacks  and  horse  back  riders 
would  begin  to  gather  from  all  parts  of  the  county,  at  the 
place  designated  with  well  filled  baskets  and  a  disposition  to 
enjoy  themselves.  They  came  to  spend  the  day;  visited  and 
discussed  the  political  situation  as  well  as  the  current 
events.  Many  times  games  of  different  kinds,  such  as  a  sack 
race,  a  fat  man's  race,  climbing  a  greasy  pole,  and  other 
amusing  sports  were  entered  into,  but  there  was  always  a 
good  speaker  and  the  declaration  of  independence  was  read 
The  citizens  felt  it  a  duty  they  owed  to  the  rising  genera- 
tion to  show  their  patriotism  and  appreciation  of  what  the 
spirit  of  '76  had  accomplished  for  us.  At  the  present  time 
if  we  attempt  to  celebrate  our  national  holiday,  which  is 
seldom  done,  the  address  is  in  the  afternon  and  a  few  peo- 
ple come  in  their  cars,  spend  a  short  time  and  rush  back 
home  missing  the  spirit  of  the  occasion. 

Sometimes,  it  seems,  the  reverence  that  was  formerly 
given  patriotic  and  memorial  days  is  waning,  but  let  us 
hope  this  is  imagination.  We  still  have  what  is  known  as 
picnics  but  they  are  small  parties  of  people  who  take  their 
sandwiches,  salads  and  thermos  bottles  to  some  shady  nook 
in  the  evening,  eat  their  meal  and  return.    They  do  not  stay 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 

long  enough  to  get  a  chigre  bite,  much  less  a  good  stock  of 
wood  ticks. 

One  occasion  that  meant  so  much  to  our  people  in 
former  times  was  the  political  campaign,  especially  in  a 
presidential  year.  In  various  parts  of  the  county  the  people 
had  "Rallies"  for  their  candidates  and  every  one  interested 
in  this  man  would  come  out  on  the  appointed  day.  They 
would  form  long  processions,  some  horse  back,  in  wagons 
and  others  in  buggies  which  were  decorated  in  the  national 
colors,  carrying  banners  with  appropriate  slogans.  The 
year  that  President  Harrison  was  the  nominee  of  the  repub- 
lican party,  George  H.  Huffman,  who  lived  at  Simpson  ten 
miles  away  had  a  float  in  the  procession  consisting  of  a  log 
cabin  on  an  ox  wagon  with  a  real  coon  in  the  door  way.  At 
one  demonstration  the  young  men  of  the  county  who  were 
to  cast  their  first  vote  at  the  coming  election  dressed  in  blue 
trousers  and  red  blouses  and  carried  brooms.  They  formed 
one  section  of  the  parade  and  the  idea  was  to  make  a  "clean 
sweep"  for  their  candidate.  The  glee  club  went  from  place 
to  place  wherever  there  was  a  political  meeting  of  their 
party  in  a  wagon  built  especially  for  them.  During  one 
campaign  the  ladies  of  the  glee  club  wore  blue  dresses  trim- 
med in  gold  braid,  which  added  nothing  to  their  music  but 
much  to  their  appearance.  At  night  all  the  men  and  boys 
would  march  to  band  and  song,  carrying  torchlights,  having 
what  was  called  a  "torch-light  procession."  Then  the  other 
side  would  have  a  demonstration  and  thus  the  interest  was 
kept  up.  A  campaign  of  this  sort  would  seem  odd  now  and 
perhaps  the  quiet  campaign  is  better  but  it  is  a  question 
whether  it  is  less  expensive  to  the  candidate,  one  could 
at  least  find  out  which  side  the  voters  were  on,  as  they 
would  rarely  have  the  nerve  to  ride  in  both  processions  and 
could  not  bleed  both  candidates  so  easily. 

The  automobile  makes  it  easy  to  compass  distance  and 
every  body  eats  at  home.  In  former  times  when  there  was 
an  extra  occasion  in  town  all  ones  relation  drove  in  to  stay 
till  after  dinner.  One,  two,  three  and  sometimes  more 
wagons  would  arrive,  some  coming  as  late  as  eleven  o'clock ; 
they  did  not  telephone  they  were  coming,  either.  You  may 
have  hurried  around  a  little  and  did  not  serve  the  dinner  in 
courses,  but  no  one  went  away  hungry  and  if  the  day  had 
been  a  little  strenuous  for  the  housewife;  it  had  been  an 
outing  and  a  pleasant  day  for  the  visitors. 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY  85 


The  farm  bureau  picnic  has  come  to  be  an  annual 
affair  of  recent  origin*  which  is  very  enjoyable  and  tends 
to  instruction  as  well.  The  singing  conventions  were  begun 
in  1915,  are  very  popular,  and  are  held  at  different  places 
in  the  county  through  the  spring  and  summer  months.  The 
Vaughn  Quartette  of  Lawrenceburg,  Tennessee,  are  very 
beautiful  singers,  they  never  fail  to  attend  and  attract  a 
crowd.  There  are  several  quartettes  and  singers  of  our 
own  county,  the  Cypress  Quartette,  the  Lauderdales'  of  New 
Burnside,  the  Underwoods  of  Ozark,  the  Lavender  family, 
near  Vienna,  the  Rushing  Trio  of  Simpson,  and  the  Bun- 
combe Quartette  of  Buncombe  are  all  faithful  to  attend  and 
help  the  community  singing. 

A  social  custom  prevails  in  this  county  in  recent  years 
of  celebrating  birthdays,  especially  those  of  the  older  peo- 
ple, which  is  a  very  pleasant  thing  to  do.  All  neighbors 
bring  baskets  of  cooked  foods,  and  come  in  to  spend  the  day 
in  honor  of  the  birthday  of  some  person  of  the  community. 
This  brings  everyone  together  and  makes  an  occasion  for 
a  social  gathering. 

Saturday  July  28,  1923,  was  a  day  to  be  remembered 
by  Mrs.  John  Harper  of  Bloomfield  and  many  of  her  friends. 
This  being  the  seventy-seventh  anniversary  of  her  birth  her 
good  husband,  children  and  neighbors  had  planned  a  won- 
derful dinner  in  her  honor.  The  table  was  set  in  the  yard 
under  a  wide  spreading  mulberry  tree  planted  by  Mr.  Har- 
per when  they  first  settled  there.  There  was  food  of  all 
kinds  and  those  fortunate  enough  to  be  guests  can 
testify  to  its  quality.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Harper  began  house 
keeping  at  this  place  and  have  lived  there  all  their  married 
lives  (fifty -three  years)  There  were  about  seventy-five 
present.  Mrs.  Fanny  Jackson,  a  cousin  of  Mrs.  Harpers, 
Mrs.  William  Corbitt  a  granddaughter  and  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
P.  T.  Chapman,  of  Vienna.  All  her  children  and  grand- 
children, except  one  daughter  and  son  and  their  families, 
who  live  at  Centralia,  Illinois.  The  children  present  were: 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Frank  Taylor,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Thomas  Taylor, 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lewis  Taylor  and  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Thomas  Clay- 
ton. This  was  a  happy  occasion  for  all  present  and  the  good 
wishes  of  every  guest  for  many  pleasant  birth  days  for  Mrs. 
Harper  were  heartily  expressed. 

The  following  are  some  miscellaneous   organizations 


86  A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


and  clubs:  The  Columbian  Exposition  held  in  Chicago 
called  into  being  the  Columbian  Woman's  Club,  Miss  Anna 
Dwyer  was  president  and  Mrs.  Sarah  Poor  was  secretary. 
The  object  was  to  collect  the  products  of  woman's  labor  of 
this  county  for  display  in  the  Woman's  Building,  at  this 
exposition.  The  only  things  sent  for  exhibit  from  here, 
were  jellies  canned  and  preseved  fruit.  This  wonderful 
celebration  to  honor  our  discovery  and  exhibit  to  the  world 
the  nation's  progress  was  a  Mecca  for  all  the  ends  of  the 
earth,  and  of  course,  Johnson  County  kept  pace.  Our  first 
visitors  were  D.  L.  Chapman  and  W.  B.  Bain.  There  were 
all  together  from  five  to  six  hundred  visitors  from  the  little 
county  of  Johnson,  some  of  them  going  several  times. 

The  state  of  Illinois  was  admitted  to  the  Union,  1818» 
1918  being  the  anniversary  of  that  event,  each  county  of 
the  state  was  supposed  to  celebrate  it,  sometime  and  in 
some  way  suitable  to  themselves.  The  citizens  of  this 
county  prepared  a  program  and  set  aside  one  day  during 
the  County  Fair  for  one  part  of  their  celebration,  also  pre- 
miums were  offered  for  displays  of  old  pictures,  relics,  and 
exhibitions  of  occupations  and  customs  of  earlier  times. 
Some  very  creditable  displays  were  made  in  the  Art  hall. 
Miss  Emma  Rebman,  county  superintendent  of  schools  at 
that  time,  appointed  a  committee  of  teachers  to  arrange  a 
display  from  our  county  for  the  Centennial  Exhibition  at 
the  state  fair  at  Springfield. 

The  eighteenth  federal  amendment  certainly  has 
wrought  a  change  in  this  county.  The  foundation  was  laid 
for  it  years  ago.  There  was  a  Prohibition  Club  here  in  the 
seventies  of  which  John  Clymer,  James  Slack,  M.  A.  Smith, 
Green  Thacker  and  others  were  members.  Mrs.  Oglesby  of 
Belknap  organized  Christian  Temperance  Union  Societies  in 
different  parts  of  the  county.  She  organized  one  in  Vienna 
in  1890.  The  officers  were  Mrs.  W.  I.  Dill  president,  Mrs. 
George  Blanchfill,  vice-president;  Miss  Nora  Covington, 
secretary;  Mrs.  Betty  Burnett,  treasurer;  Mrs.  Emma 
Smith,  corresponding  secretary. 

But  one  of  the  main  things  that  helped  to  educate  the 
people  of  this  county  along  this  line  was  the  ardent  support 
given  the  prohibition  cause  by  M.  A.  Smith,  editor  of  the 
Johnson  County  Journal  for  more  than  twenty  years.  The 
county  was  cleared  of  saloons  in  1881.    The  last  ones  being 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


at  Simpson  and  Cypress,  but  their  lives  were  short  as  we 
had  as  helpers  at  the  time  officers  who  were  uncompro- 
mising in  their  enforcement  of  the  law.  Although  we  have 
had  prohibition  in  the  county  for  so  many  years,  we  have 
been  continually  menaced  by  the  boot  legger  and  the  illicit 
salesman,  but  a  drunken  man  on  the  streets  is  seldom  seen 
in  our  community  at  the  present  time. 

FAIRS 

Most  agricultural  counties  hold  a  Fair  in  the  late  sum- 
mer or  fall  of  the  year.  This  usually  includes  racing  as 
well  as  exhibits  and  necessitates  grounds  with  a  track, 
stalls,  booths  and  pens  for  horses  and  stock  together  with 
a  large  inclosure  for  eating  stands,  side  shows,  merry-go- 
rounds  and  various  little  money  making  devices.  Also  much 
space  is  used  for  the  wagons,  buggies  and  automobiles  of 
the  visitors.  There  is  an  ampitheater  for  the  convenience 
of  those  who  want  to  see  the  races,  riding  and  displays  of 
stock.  There  are  suitable  buildings  for  Art  exhibits,  poul- 
try, farm  and  garden  products.  The  object  of  this  annual 
gathering  is  quite  well  understood  and  the  fairs  held  in  this 
county  have,  without  doubt,  been  most  advantageous  in  im- 
proving the  grade  of  live  stock,  poultry  and  farm  products. 
It  is  not  known  just  when  the  first  fair  held  in  this  county 
was  organized  but  it  was  some  time  before  or  about  1861. 
The  grounds  included  the  present  site  of  the  Big  Four 
station  and  the  field  on  the  left  hand  side  of  the  road  leading 
to  the  station.  The  promoters  were,  no  doubt,  the  promi- 
nent business  men  and  farmers  of  that  time  who  likely  were 
John  Bain,  Samuel  Jackson,  Hon.  A.  J.  Kuykendall,  Samuel 
J.  Hess,  Samuel  S.  Copeland,  Josiah  Throgmorton,  S.  J. 
Chapman,  D.  C.  Chapman,  Hiram  Carson,  John  Wright,  B. 
S.  Smith,  William  Perkins,  James  Oliver  ,  S.  M.  Glassford, 
Thos.  Farris  and  others.  Little  is  known  of  the  result  of  this 
fair  or  how  long  it  lasted  as  there  are  no  records  to  be  found 
at  the  present  time.  It  is  known  for  certain  that  A.  J.  Gray 
was  the  most  graceful  horseback  rider  at  these  fairs  and 
that  the  grounds  were  used  for  a  camping  ground  for  the 
soldiers,  who  were  entering  the  Federal  army.  They 
camped  there  from  August  until  October.  Another  fact  is 
from  the  "Vienna  Artery"  June  1871,  "The  Old  Fair 
Grounds  will  be  sold  at  sheriff's  sale  on  the  first  day  of  July 
under  excution  in  favor  of  Mesrs  Sexton  and  Wright. 


88  A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


The  second  Fair  Association  was  organized  in  1883  or 
1884.  The  promoters  were  W.  C.  Simpson,  J.  B.  Kuyken- 
dall,  T.  B.  Powell,  J.  N.  Poor,  P.  T.  and  J.  C.  Chapman, 
Samuel  M.  Glassford  and  others.  The  officers  for  the  year 
1888  were  S.  M.  Glassford,  president;  Thomas  B.  Powell, 
secretary;  J.  N.  Poor,  treasurer.  The  financial  exhibit  for 
that  year  was  gate  and  entrance  fees,  $2,212.00,  rents  and 
permits,  $310.70;  sale  of  shares  of  stock,  $2,475.00,  other 
resources,  $178.70.  paid  in  premiums,  $1,626.11  paid  for 
real  estate  buildings  and  improvements,  $3,519.84,  balance 
in  treasury,  $31.15.  The  grounds  where  this  exhibit  was 
held  were  just  across  the  drainage  ditch  south  and  east  of 
Vienna  on  the  left  of  the  road  leading  to  Belknap  in  what 
is  now  P.  T.  Chapman's  field.  Some  of  the  men  securing 
premiums  for  graceful  horseback  riding  at  this  fair  were 
J.  K.  Elkins,  M.  A.  Hankins  and  Alfred  Oliver,  some  of  the 
ladies  were  Lenna  Oliver,  Fanny  Throgmorton  and  Julia 
Bridges.  This  asociation  soon  fell  so  far  behind  financially 
that  it  was  abandoned. 

The  third  fair  corporation  was  completed  in  1905  with 
William  More,  J.  B.  Kuykendall,  P.  T.  Chapman,  N.  J.  Moz- 
ley,  D.  W.  Whittenberg,  W.  M.  Grisson,  J.  C.  Carter  Charles 
Marshall,  C.  H.  Mason,  M.  L.  Hight,  Harry  Beauman,  J.  K. 
and  I.  N.  Elkins  and  others  as  stock  holders.  The  grounds 
for  holding  this  fair  were  leased  from  J.  H.  Carter,  Jr.,  and 
lay  on  the  left  of  the  road  leading  from  Vienna,  north  past 
the  Fraternal  Cemetery.  They  are  conveniently  located 
and  well  arranged  with  a  good  track,  buildings,  and  booths. 
Annual  exhibits  and  races  have  been  held  since  its  organ- 
ization. It  is  not  a  money  making  institution,  so  far  in  its 
history,  but  the  losses  are  small  and  they  "carry  on."  The 
fair  is  a  paying  proposition  even  though  it  should  not  be  a 
financial  success.  It  undoubtedly,  has  inspired  a  desire  for 
better  live  stock,  finer  fruit  and  the  best  in  farm  products. 
The  year,  1907  was  made  memorable  by  the  "Home  Com- 
ing" which  was  held  during  the  fair.  It  was  a  decided 
success  and  many  former  citizens  coming  from  all  parts  of 
the  United  States  met  here,  who  had  not  seen  each  other 
for  many  years.  The  fair  adds  much  to  the  social  activities 
of  the  county,  acquaintances  and  friends  from  this  and 
neighboring  counties  meet  and  visit  together  at  the  fair 
that  possibly  do  not  meet  at  any  other  time. 

Each  year  the  managers  have  had  some  special  feature 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY  89 


for  entertainment.  In  1912  they  brought  the  first  flying 
machine  here  that  had  ever  landed  in  the  county.  It  was 
an  aeroplane.  In  1920  a  byplane  did  a  good  business  during 
fair  week  taking  parties  for  flights  at  $10.00  per  trip.  J. 
B.  Hankins  of  Vienna  has  always  taken  the  prize  for  the 
best  horseback  rider  at  this  fair  when  he  would  enter.  He 
also  always  has  some  fine  saddlers  on  exhibition,  if  he  does 
does  not  enter  the  competition,  everyone  knows  he  would 
have  been  entitled  to  the  blue  ribbon  as  the  best  rider  and 
as  having  the  best  saddle  horse.  Very  few  ladies  ride 
horseback  in  this  county  since  the  days  of  automobiles.  Miss 
Gertrude  Powell  took  the  blue  ribbon  for  the  best  lady 
rider  at  the  fair  several  years  ago.  The  fair  association 
was  reorganized  last  year  (1923)  with  J.  M.  Brown,  E.  F. 
Throgmorton,  P.  T.  Powell,  George  Gray,  J.  N.  Mozley, 
Lloyd  Farris  and  T.  C.  Taylor  as  stockholders.  The  state 
assists  all  agricultural  fairs. 

SPORTS 

The  rod  and  gun  have  furnished  sports  and  diversion 
since  the  days  of  Nimrod,  perhaps  before,  as  well  as  being 
the  principal  means  of  furnishing  sustenance  for  oneself 
and  family  before  the  days  of  plenty.  There  has  always  been 
an  abundance  of  game  in  Johnson  County  on  account  of  the 
timber  and  secluded  places  for  their  propagation.  Trapping 
is  now  and  has  been  a  lucrative  business  in  this  county 
many  years.  We  have  many  fur  bearing  animals,  coon, 
mink,  otter  and  fox.  Fox  hunting  is  a  favorite  diversion 
with  many  of  our  sportsmen.  They  take  their  dogs  to  the 
bluffs  and  caves  which  are  the  haunts  of  the  fox,  and  get 
one  started  running.  The  sport  is  in  listening  to  the  dogs 
as  they  run  and  send  up  their  peculiar  wail.  The  hunters 
enjoy  their  music  and  are  able  to  tell  whose  dog  is  in  the 
lead  in  the  race.  It  is  not  the  intent  of  the  sportsman  to 
catch  the  fox  as  the  English  do,  but  merely  to  have  the 
chase.  It  is  a  picture  to  see  the  hunters  going  out  about 
sundown,  several  in  a  group,  with  their  automobiles  filled 
with  hounds  and  many  following. 

Fishing  is  another  pastime  indulged  in  by  some  of  our 
citizens.  The  larger  streams  abound  in  cat  and  grinnell. 
The  smaller  creeks  have  perch  and  we  have  a  few  game 
fish,  none  native.    The  State  Commission  have  stocked  pri- 


90  A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


vate  ponds  so  that  some  of  our  farmers,  who  have  taken 
the  trouble,  have  good  fishing. 

Much  of  the  wild  game  has  been  exterminated,  but 
thanks  to  our  state  game  law,  we  still  have  some  wild  game 
such  as  the  quail  and  squirrel,  but  in  later  years,  our  home 
game  has  been  too  tame  for  some  of  our  sportsmen  and  a 
hunting  club  was  organized  in  1892.  L.  A.  Knowles  was 
captain  and  always  led  the  van,  never  permitting  anything 
to  hinder  him  from  the  hunting  trip  to  Mississippi,  Louisi 
ana,  or  Colorado,  which  always  occurred  in  the  fall.  Other 
members  were  Judge  A.  K.  Vickers>  Cass  Oliver,  M.  A. 
Smith,  W.  L.  Williams,  Judge  W.  W.  Duncan,  of  Marion, 
Judge  Wm.  Butler  of  Cairo,  Daniel  Clymer,  John  Thornton,, 
John  Mowery,  Dick  Redden,  H.  V.  Carter,  W.  G.  Jackson, 
L.  L.  Sanders  and  Henry  Curtis.  These  men  went  annually 
and  spent  a  month  or  six  weeks'  killing  deer,  and  what 
ever  small  game  they  would  deign  to  notice,  and  no  doubt 
forgot  all  their  worries,  if  they  had  any,  and  giving  way  to 
the  aboriginal  in  them  for  a  time.  Judge  A.  K.  Vickers, 
M.  A.  Smith,  Henry  Curtis,  L.  A.  Knowles  and  Judge  But- 
ler have  passed  on.  It  remains  to  be  seen  if  the  hunting 
club  survives. 

Quail  hunting  is,  and  no  doubt,  has  always  been  one 
of  the  most  widely  followed  sports  of  this  county.  These 
beautiful  and  useful  little  birds  abound  on  every  farm,  and 
following  an  open  winter,  one  will  see  coveys  of  them  on 
the  road  side  every  few  rods.  During  the  season  when 
the  quail  law  is  off  or  on,  whichever  way  one  looks  at  it, 
one  can  see  the  hunters  with  guns  and  dogs  going  out  early 
and  late.  Many  farmers  now  post  their  farm  and  hunting 
is  allowed  only  by  permission.  In  former  times,  when 
this  was  not  a  rule,  crowds  of  hunters  came  from  the 
cities  and  neighboring  towns  to  this  county  for  bird  shoot- 
ing. 

The  squirrel  season  is  rather  short,  the  hunters  think, 
but  killing  squirrel  is  not  considered  as  fine  a  sport  as 
quail  shooting,  and  many  farmers  are  glad  to  have  the 
pretty  little  gray  pests  killed,  as  they  destroy  a  great  deal 
of  corn  in  the  fields.  In  the  winter  season  when  the  snow 
is  on,  many  enjoy  rabbit  hunting,  especially  the  boys.  It 
furnishes  sport  for  Saturdays,  if  they  have  a  good  dog, 
and  also  a  little  pocket  change,  as  rabbits  are  shipped  to 
city  markets  from  here  during  the  winter  season. 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY  91 


EDUCATION 

As  in  all  other  frontier  countries  the  opportunity  in 
this  county  for  an  education  was  very  meager.  The  few 
schools,  were  taught  in  residences,  churches,  or  improvised 
school  houses.  They  were  private  or  subscription,  the  par- 
ent or  guardian  paying  so  much  per  month  or  term  for 
each  scholar  subscribed.  The  teacher  boarded  round  with 
each  pupil  as  part  of  his  salary. .  These  terms  were  irregu- 
lar and  the  teachers  were  all  men.  Teaching  was  not  held 
in  very  high  esteem  these  first  years  for  it  was  usually 
considered  a  "lazy  man's  job."  The  reason  for  this  mis- 
conception, no  doubt,  was  that  many  men  without  families 
who  were  not  qualified  mentally  or  morally  fell  onto  the 
plan  of  teaching  as  a  means  of  getting  a  living.  Since  in 
the  new  country,  there  were  no  fixed  standards  of  qualifi- 
cation this  was  an  easy  matter.  This  was  not  the  rule  but 
there  was  enough  of  this  class  to  discredit  the  profession. 

The  first  free  school  law  was  framed  and  passed  in 
this  state  in  1825. 

Under  this  law  the  first  school  district  was  laid  off  in 
this  county,  May.  1825,  as  follows:  Beginning  at  John 
Copeland's  (the  farm  where  Alfred  Hook  now  lives,1922) 
and  running  northwest  with  the  road  leading  toward 
George  Brazell's  so  as  to  include  John  Finny  and  Charles 
Fain,  (who  lived  west  of  Vienna  about  where  the  Huster 
settlement  is  now)  from  there  so  as  to  include  John  Gore, 
the  farm  just  this  side  of  the  rocky  hill  on  the  West  Vienna 
road  known  as  the  Dicky  Carlton  farm,  from  there  east  so 
as  to  include  James  Jones,  whose  farm  is  now  included  in 
the  Fred  Shelter  and  J.  M.  Brown  farms  and  Mathew 
Mathis,  (the  Looney  farm,)  James  Bain,  (Levi  Smith's 
also  known  as  the  Vickers  farm)  to  Joel  Johnson's  who 
lived  at  that  time  where  Lloyd  Farris  now  lives,  so  as  to  in- 
clude Johnson,  thence  in  a  southwest  direction  to  include 
Dave  Shearer,  (this  farm  is  now  owned  by  James  Beach 
and  John  Dunn)  then  to  John  Copeland's,  the  place  of 
beginning.  All  this  was  to  be  known  as  the  School  dis- 
trict of  Vienna.  From  this  description  of  the  bounds 
of  the  first  district,  it  is  not  hard  to  conclude  that  the  guid- 
ing principle  in  shaping  its  boundaries  was  to  include  cer- 
tain families  regardless  of  the  resulting  size  and  shape. 

The    court    also    ordered    the    following    boundaries. 


92  A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


Recognizing  the  petition  of  the  citizens  under  the  free 
school  law  of  1825  To-wit:  "Beginning  at  James  Jones,  Sr., 
thence  a  south  course  to  the  school  district  line  of  Vienna, 
thence  east  along  so  as  to  include  Elias  Harrell  thence 
north  to  include  W.  J.  Wise  and  Samuel  McGown,  thence 
west  so  as  to  include  Joseph  Kuykendall,  thence  to  the  be- 
ginning and  the  said  district  be  known  as  the  Bloomfield 
district. 

And  that  a  school  district  be  established  and  called 
the  Cache  district  commencing  at  George  Brazel's,  thence 
north  so  as  to  include  William  McGinnis,  thence  west  so 
as  to  include  Robert  Lott,  thence  southwest  to  the  county- 
line  so  as  to  include  John  Standard,  thence  east  to  Cache, 
thence  to  the  beginning,"  both  ordered  June  term  court. 
1825. 

June,  1825,  ordered  that  a  school  district  be  establish- 
ed within  the  following  boundaries,  To-wit:  "Beginning 
at  Sec.  16,  Township  13,  Range  2,  east  running  westward 
so  as  to  include  Thomas  Standard,  Lewis  Worrell,  William 
Jones  and  the  widow  Standard,  thence  to  the  county  line, 
thence  south  along  the  county  line  to  Cache  River,  thence 
up  the  same  to  the  range  line  between  2  and  3  thence  up 
said  line  north  to  a  point  due  east  from  the  16th  Sec,  thence 
west  to  the  place  of  beginning."  This  was  West  Eden  dis- 
trict. 

The  fact  that  those  early  settlers  took  advantage  so 
quickly  of  this  free  school  law  indicated  their  tendency  to- 
ward progress.  There  was  no  compulsory  school  law  as  yet. 
A  great  many  parents,  having  no  education  themselves,  did 
not  believe  in  it  for  their  children,  and  did  not  take  ad- 
vantage of  the  opportunity  offered  by  the  free  school  law. 
The  benefits  of  educations  were  not,  therefore,  reaching 
the  masses  as  had  been  hoped.  Realizing  that  the  educa- 
tional system  then  in  operation  was  not  doing  for  the  people 
what  it  should,  the  legislature  enacted  into  law  in  1855, 
the  foundation  of  the  present  state  system.  Townships 
were  laid  off  into  school  districts,  three  and  four  to  a 
township.  An  attempt  was  made  to  provide  that  no  pupil 
be  obliged  to  walk  more  than  two  miles  to  school  and 
school  boards  were  compelled  to  maintain  school  not  less 
than  six  months  in  each  year  and  to  authorize  a  sufficient 
levy  to  support  them.    Older  people  have  said  that  this  law 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY  93 

met  with  a  great  deal  of  bitter  opposition  in  this  county. 
This  new  uniform  program  raised  the  standard  of  quali- 
fications of  the  teacher  and  added  thereby  dignity  to  the 
profession. 

The  earliest  teacher  that  we  have  a  record  of  in  this 
county  was  Daniel  T.  Coleman.  It  is  not  certain,  even, 
that  he  taught  in  the  present  limits  of  the  county.  The 
evidence  to  establish  him  as  the  first  teacher  is  found  in 
the  estate  of  Nathaniel  Green. 

From  Major  A.  J.  Kuykendall  we  glean  the  following 
interesting  information  concerning  the  first  school,  in  the 
present  limits  of  Johnson  County.  The  school  was  taught 
in  1819  by  Hiram  Chapman,  a  native  of  N.  Y.  and  a  great 
uncle  of  Judge  P.  T.  Chapman.  It  was  taught  near  the 
present  site  of  Bloomfield.  The  most  advanced  pupil  in 
the  school  was  James  Kuykendall,  a  brother  of  the  Major 
and  five  years  older.  The  nearest  school  to  this  was  Equal- 
ity in  Saline.  That  school  was  conducted  by  an  eastern 
man,  as  they  were  then  called,  and  the  most  advanced 
pupil  in  that  school  was  Choisser.  an  uncle  of  W.  V.  Chois- 
ser  of  Harrisburg.  During  the  school  term,  Chapman  re- 
ceived a  challenge  from  the  teacher  of  Equality  in  which 
the  most  advanced  pupil  in  each  school  was  to  be  matched 
against  the  other  in  "saying  pieces."  The  challenge  was 
accepted  and  the  contest  at  the  Bloomfield  school  resulted  in 
victory  for  the  Bloomfield  pupil.  This  was  a  notable  event 
in  those  days  and  well  it  may  have  been,  when  we  consider 
the  distance  and  mode  of  travel  at  that  time. 

From  the  statement  of  his  grandson,  James  P.  Cope- 
land,  John  Copeland,  the  pioneer,  helped  to  build  the  first 
school  house  in  his  neighborhood  and  taught  the  first 
school  in  it.  This  school  may  have  been  the  first  free 
school  in  1825.  It  is  clear  that  the  last  two  teachers 
named  taught  in  the  present  county  limits.  Some  other 
early  teachers  were  Hezekiah  West,  Nesbit  Allen,  1818, 
father  of  W.  C,  Isaac  Stalcup,  James  Pattilla,  a  Scotch- 
man, William  Peebles,  Herrelstone,  Samuel  Hambleton, 
Joseph  Carmichael,  Russel,  J.  W.  Terrell,  A.  A.  Mather,  C. 
W.  Bliss,  Dr.  J.  B.  Ray,  Hiram  Wise,  Minnicks,  A.  J.  Kuy- 
kendall David  Bayles,  Barney  Smith,  L.  L.  Madden,  H.  M. 
Ridenhower,  Sr.,  Asahel  Burnett,  J.  S.  Whittenberg,  L.  W. 
Fern,  Dr.  W.  A.  Looney,  Joseph  Warder,  A.  M.  Marschalk, 


94  A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


B.  F.  Lewis,  Col.  Toler,  D.  C,  Lee  and  Tamerlane  Chapman, 
Barney  Smith,  C.  N.  Dawson.  Standard,  W.  A.  Spann, 
Jasper  Johnson,  Franklin  Thomas,  Samuel  and  James  Cope- 
land,  L.  F.  Jacobs,  Joshua  and  James  Simpson.  Most  of 
these  antedate  the  Civil  War ;  some  were  about  war  times ; 
and  the  following  a  little  later:  I.  A.  J.  Parker,  B.  F.  Olden, 
O.  A.  Harker,  Charles  W.  Bliss,  P.  G.  McAvoy,  A.  B. 
Garrett,  M.  A.  Smith,  A.  G.  and  C.  N.  Damron,  Dr.  John 
Keesee,  P.  T.  Chapman,  A.  G.  Benson,  J.  S.  Francis,  W.  S. 
Curtis,  R.  M.  Fisher.  Some  of  these  men  have  gone  into 
other  professions  and  made  a  name  for  themselves. 

The  first  woman  teacher  recorded  was  Miss  Emma 
Driver,  a  young  English  girl  from  New  York.  She  prob- 
ably came  to  Johnson  County  some  time  before  1855.  She 
taught  a  private  school  in  Vienna.  Mrs.  Joseph  Warder 
and  Mrs.  Isabell  Marschalk  were  teachers  here  about  1854 
or  1855.  There  were  also  Mrs.  Chase,  wife  of  an  architect, 
Mrs.  Mariah  Benson,  Miss  Ann  Stewart.  In  1878  there 
were  only  four  women  teachers  in  the  county;  by  1881 
there  were  thirty-five.  The  number  of  women  teachers 
employed  in  the  schools  at  the  present  time  is  55.  The 
average  wage  paid  men  in  the  grades  is  $678.26.  The  av- 
erage wage  paid  teachers  of  the  county  for  the  year  1858 
was  $151.00;  in  1860  there  was  no  report;  in  1870,  $180.00 
in  1880,  $185.00;  in  1890.  $183.00;  in  1900,$226.00;  in 
1910,  $271.00 ;  in  1920,  $495.00.  It  can  be  seen  that  the  pay 
for  teachers  has  doubled  in  the  last  twenty  years. 
In  1884  there  were  5,268  children  of  school  age  in  the 
county;  seventy-five  teachers  were  employed  with  an  aver- 
age wage  for  men  of  $39.15  per  month,  and  for  women, 
$34.17  per  month.  In  1908  there  were  7,588  children  in 
the  county,  with  4,792  enrolled  in  the  schools;  the  average 
monthly  wage  paid  men  for  that  year  was  $47.10,  women 
$35.10. 

In  1914,  under  the  superintendency  of  Miss  Emma 
Rebman  the  county  was  given  a  large  flag,  13x30  feet.  The 
state  presented  this  flag  as  a  prize  to  the  county  because 
it  had  the  best  average  attendance  in  proportion  to  the 
number  of  pupils  enrolled.  It  may  be  interesting  to  men- 
tion at  this  point  some  personal  records  of  attendance. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  N.  C.  Harris,  living  in  school  district  57,  Berea 
neighborhood  had  six  children  in  school  during  the  term 
of  1908-09.    Not  one  of  these  children  was  absent  or  tardy 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY  95 


during  the  entire  term.  Another  record  of  strict  attend- 
ance to  business  which  deserves  mention,  is  that  of  Miss 
May  Hankins  of  Vienna  who  finished  the  Vienna  Town- 
ship High  School,  June,  1921.  She  had  not  been  absent 
from  schol  an  entire  day  since  she  entered  the  first  grade. 
How  much  it  would  mean  to  teachers  and  pupils  if  this 
were  the  rule  instead  of  the  exception. 

In  1819  the  county  commisioners  court  was  given  gen- 
eral powers  over  school  land  as  well  as  establishing  dis- 
tricts; by  an  act  of  1825  the  office  of  school  trustee  was 
created.  The  name  of  this  board  was  changed  to  "school 
directors"  by  an  act  of  the  legislature  of  1841.  1827  an 
act  was  passed  whereby  the  county  commissioners  should 
appoint  township  trustees.  Later  the  office  of  trustees  as 
well  as  school  director  was  made  elective.  The  township 
trustees  had  about  the  same  duties  they  now  have  except 
for  a  short  time,  they  were  given  power  to  examine 
teachers.  The  following  is  an  extract  from  an  old  trustee's 
record  of  1864-68.  In  1864  John  McCorcle,  Thomas  A. 
Gillespie,  and  J.  F.  Holt  were  the  trustees  for  township  13, 
S.  Range  3  east;  A.  M.  Marschalk  taught  in  district  1, 
1864-65.  His  schedule  amounted  to  $200.00  for  the  term; 
Mrs.  I.  Marschalk  taught  at  the  same  time  in  the  same  dis- 
trict, for  the  same  amount.  T.  Chapman  taught  in  district 
2,  in  1864-65  his  salary  was  $270.00.  C.  W.  Hutchinson 
and  D.  R.  Watson  were  teachers  of  1863-64.  In  1864, 
$10.15  was  allowed  district  No.  1  from  district  No.  5  for 
tuition  for  William,  Sarah,  Dicy.  Susan  and  Frank  Morris. 
Other  teachers  of  1864  were  Samuel  E.  Bancornis,  John  N. 
Johnson.  In  1865  they  were  Mariah  Benson,  J.  W.  Jen- 
kins; 1866,  Joseph  Warder,  O.  L.  Ridenhower,  W.  L. 
Blackwell,  M.  L.  Kuyler.  Trustees  for  1866  were  B.  F. 
Bellemy,  James  W.  Bales,  Samuel  Jackson.  John  S.  Crum, 
Treasurer.  The  list  of  teachers  from  66-68  is,  Aschel 
Burnett,  Nancy  E.  Williford,  Richard  Thatcher,  C.  S. 
Norris,  W.  H.  Thomas,  W.  W.  Boyt,  N.  J.  Slack,  O.  A. 
Harker,  W.  S.  Curtis.  The  number  of  children  in  the 
Vienna  district  in  1873  was  236. 

The  office  of  school  commissioner  was  established  in 
1831;  in  1841  such  commissioners  were  given  authority  to 
examine  teachers.  This  office  was  changed  to  county  super- 
intendent in  1855.     The  name  of  W.  J.  Wise  is  given  as 


96  A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


school  commissioner  in  1836,  also  as  late  as  1850.  The 
power  of  passing  on  the  qualification  of  teachers  was  exer- 
cised by  the  county  superintendent  until  1913,  when  it  was 
delegated  to  the  State  Examining  Board.  W.  H.  Culver 
was  elected  county  superintendent  in  1855  and  served  in 
that  office  till  1865.  He  signed  as  commisioner  through 
common  usage. 

The  following  is  a  receipt  which  was  given  to  D.  C. 
Chapman  as  Sheriff  and  there  were  several  other  similar 
ones  that  ran  up  as  far  as  1863 :  "Received  of  D.  C.  Chap- 
man of  fine  money  assessed  in  the  circuit  court  against  A. 
H.  Hill  in  five  cases.  $10.00  each,  fifty  dollars  of  which  this 
is  a  duplicate,  (date  not  known),  this  6th  day  of  June, 
1857.  W.  H.  Culver,  School  Commissioner,"  which  should 
have  been  County  Superintendent.  The  fact  that  these 
receipts  cover  a  period  of  seven  years  indicates  that  he 
held  the  office  two  terms  and  that  Culver  was  the  only 
one  holding  the  office  of  County  Superintendent  under  the 
1855  law,  till  1865  from  which  time  we  have  a  complete 
record. 

Under  the  office  of  school  commissioner  they  were 
allowed  to  appoint  examiners  who  issued  certificates.  J.  B. 
Chapman  was  an  examiner  at  one  time,  having  issued  a 
certificate  to  W.  A.  Spann  in  1861.  H.  M.  Ridenhower, 
Asahel  Burnett,  Newton  Pearce,  Dr.  Bratton  and  Dr.  J. 
M.  C.  Damron  are  names  which  have  been  given  orally  as 
examiners  at  different  times,  but  there  is  no  record  of  these 
and  there  were,  no  doubt,  many  other  examiners  whose 
names  have  not  been  obtained.  J.  S.  Whittenberg  is  the 
first  name  recorded  in  the  county  as  superintendent  of 
schools  and  the  following  is  a  report  sent  in  by  him  to  the 
State  Superintendent  in  1865.  It  is  evident  from  the 
phrasing  that  this  is  not  his  first  report  indicating  that  he 
probably  followed  Culver  in  the  office  of  County  Super- 
intendent. "Since  my  last  report  of  the  public  schools  in 
this  county,  the  cause  of  education  has  steadily  advanced, 
and  a  position  is  now  gained  from  which  we  may  antici- 
pate greater  results  in  the  future.  A  more  intimate  ac- 
quaintance with  the  workings  of  the  free  school  system 
has  dissipated,  in  a  great  measure,  the  prejudice  of  its 
opponents,  and  secured  for  it  a  surer  place. in  the  confidence 
of  the  masses.  Among  the  hopeful  indications  of  the  year 
just  closed  are,  an  increased  interest  shown  by  the  people 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY  97 


in  regard  to  their  schools,  a  more  careful  selection  of  men 
to  fill  the  offices  of  trustees  and  directors,  and  a  gi  owing 
demand  for  a  better  class  of  teachers.  These  encouraging 
facts  inspire  the  hope  that  the  day  is  not  far  distant  when 
our  public  schools  shall  receive  the  attention  their  import- 
ance demands.  The  last  returns  of  township  treasurers  to 
this  office,  though  not  entirely  free  from  error  and  incon- 
sistency, are  much  more  full  and  reliable  than  formerly. 
During  the  last  year  I  have  visited  all  the  schools  in  the 
county  and  in  most  of  the  districts  have  met  the  citizens 
at  night,  and  given  them  a  lecture  on  questions  of  educa- 
tional interest.  As  a  result  of  my  visits,  I  have  seen  the 
necessity  that  exists  for  thorough  supervision.  Teachers 
and  school  officers  need  to  consult  freely  with  some  one 
intimately  acquainted  with  the  conditions  and  wants  of 
each  particular  school  and  district,  and  at  the  same  time 
familiar  with  the  improvements  in  school  discipline,  text 
books,  school  architecture,  etc.,  which  are  continually  being 
made.  I  am  fully  satisfied  that  an  efficient  man  in  each 
county,  with  sufficient  salary  to  enable  him  to  devote  all 
his  time  and  energy  to  the  work,  would  render  the  money 
annually  expended  for  the  support  of  schools  more  than 
doubly  efficacious  than  it  now  is. 

As  to  amendments  to  the  school  law,  I  have  none  to 
submit,  except  to  provide  for  a  more  perfect  supervision 
of  school.  This  may  be  done  by  allowing  the  superinten- 
dents a  reasonable  per  diem  in  cash,  in  the  place  of  the  per 
diem  in  county  orders,  which  generally  fall  one-third  be- 
low par,  thereby  making  the  superintendent's  pay  merely 
nominal." 

The  school  law  of  our  state  has  been  improved  from 
time  to  time  since  1855  by  lengthening  the  term  and  in 
making  attendance  compulsory.  The  first  law  of  this  kind 
was  passed  in  1883,  compelling  parents  or  guardians  to 
send  children  under  14  to  school  a  certain  number  of  days 
in  each  year.  In  this  same  law  such  varied  subjects  as 
physical  training  and  proper  care  of  the  teeth  were  made 
obligatory  and  as  early  as  1897  the  effect  of  alcohol  and 
narcotics  became  a  required  subject. 

These  pupils  who  were  the  objects  of  so  much  legis- 
lation must  have  a  home  so  that  one  of  the  first  provisions 
necessary    was   a    school    house.     In    this    county,    school 


98  A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


houses  and  furnishings  were  at  first  very  primitive.  Set- 
tlers were  few;  property  was  scarce;  and  as  usual  taxes 
were  the  great  burden.  But  surely  our  forebears  could 
not  complain  of  the  kind  of  school  buildings  they  had. 
They  were  made  of  logs  with  a  dirt  floor  and  a  hole  in  the 
middle  of  the  roof  or  at  one  end  for  the  smoke  to  go  out 
as  the  fire  was  built  on  a  dirt  floor.  The  windows  were 
spaces  where  logs  were  left  out  for  light  and  incidentally 
although  they  were  not  so  planned,  for  ventilation  as  there 
was  no  glass  in  them.  The  seats  were  logs  split,  the  flat 
side  up,  with  legs  made  by  boring  holes  on  the  underside 
of  the  log  and  putting  heavy  wooden  sticks  in  them. 
Sometimes  the  logs  were  laid  across  other  logs  for  seats. 
The  only  desk  was  a  wide  puncheon,  also  made  from  a  log 
and  smoothed  off  and  placed  on  wooden  pins  stuck  in  the 
wall  and  called  the  "writing  desk."  Only  those  pupils  who 
took  writing  could  sit  at  this  desk  and  they  only  at  "writing 
time." 

In  these  early  schools  the  pupils  were  allowed  to  "study 
out,"  that  is  every  one  said  over  his  lesson  so  every  one 
else  could  hear.  While  some  studied  spelling,  others  were 
reading,  still  others  were  adding  a  "sum."  Every  few  min- 
utes a  pupil  snapped  his  fingers,  the  teacher  nooded  assent, 
the  boy  or  girl  then  placed  a  finger  under  a  word  on  the 
page,  went  up  to  the  teacher  and  held  it  up  for  pronuncia- 
tion. This  custom  obtained  long  after  the  quiet  work  was 
required  in  the  school  room.  To  get  a  head  mark  was  a 
great  incentive  to  memorize  one's  spelling  lesson.  Spelling 
was  recited  orally  and  if  the  one  above  failed  to  spell  a 
word  and  you  spelled  it,  you  "turned  him  down"  and  went 
above  him.  One  might  turn  down  a  half  dozen  at  one  time 
or  even  a  whole  class.  The  pupils  securing  the  most  head 
marks  in  a  certain  length  of  time  was  usually  rewarded 
with  a  prize  from  the  teacher.  Another  obsolete  custom  is 
that  of  compelling  the  teacher  to  "treat"  at  Christmas  time, 
that  is,  provide  candy  or  fruit  for  the  school.  In  some 
cases  they  were  real  rough  if  they  were  not  treated,  the 
pupils  might  lock  him  out  in  the  cold  until  he  decided  to 
treat. 

The  first  school  house  the  author  remembers  was  a 
frame  building,  a  long  box  wood  stove  in  the  center,  the 
inevitable  writing  desk  now  made  of  a  smooth  plank,  ink 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY  99 


stained  and  barlow  carved,  still  reserved  for  "writing 
time."  The  seats  were  made  of  plank  with  backs  that 
struck  you  about  half  way  up ;  lucky,  indeed,  you  were  if 
you  reached  school  early  on  a  zero  morning  and  could  get 
on  a  bench  next  to  the  stove.  Nails  were  driven  in  the  wall 
for  hats  and  coats  and  a  bench  placed  abainst  the  wall  for 
the  lunch  buckets.  Across  the  end  of  the  room  the  floor 
was  raised  about  two  feet,  with  steps  the  entire  length, 
making  a  dias  or  stage;  the  wall  which  was  across  the 
back  of  the  stage  was  all  black  board,  simply  painted  black 
and  on  the  stage  sat  a  huge  desk  made  of  lumber  with  a 
lid  that  raised.  This  was  the  teacher's  desk  where  pupil's 
books  were  put  at  night  provided  there  were  any  beside 
the  old  blue  back  spelling  book.  The  room  was  really 
well  lighted. 

But  the  main  piece  of  furniture  must  not  be  forgotten 
— the  water  bucket.  "Teacher  can  Lizzie  and  I  bring  some 
water?"  was  the  oft  repeated  question.  Delighted  they  were 
when  the  affirmative  answer  was  forthcoming.  The  spring 
was  a  pleasant  journey;  they  did  not  hurry  and  they  al- 
ways passed  the  water  on  their  return  letting  each  pupil 
dip  out  a  drink,  and  return  the  dipper  to  the  bucket. 

The  number  of  school  houses  in  the  county  in  1878  was 
52 ;  25  of  them  were  log.  In  1884,  of  the  62  school  build- 
ings then  erected,  2  were  brick,  52  frame  and  8  still  re- 
mained of  log.  In  less  than  50  years  from  the  beginning 
of  the  present  system,  1855,  all  log  buildings  were  elimi- 
nated. At  the  present  time,  there  are  in  the  county,  7 
brick,  65  frame  school  buildings,  all  meeting  the  standard 
of  construction  and  sanitation  required  by  the  act  of  1915. 

Up  to  the  year  1890,  women  had  little  or  no  active  part 
in  this  county  as  school  officers.  But  in  1891,  Mrs.  Viola 
(Smith)  Brown  was  elected  on  the  school  board  of  district 
No.  9.  She  served  as  clerk  for  several  years  and  as  the 
first  woman  in  the  county  to  serve  in  that  capacity,  made 
an  excellent  member  of  the  board.  Mrs.  Sarah  Poor  and 
Mrs.  R.  M.  Fisher  were  made  members  of  the  school  board 
for  Vienna  in  1892,  having  the  honor  of  being  the  first 
women  of  the  town  advanced  to  that  position.  Since  then, 
it  is  not  uncommon  in  Vienna  to  elect  women  to  the  school 
board.  They  take  fully  as  much,  if  not  more,  interest 
than   the   men   in   matters   of  education.     Miss   Sarah   J. 


100  A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


Whittenberg,  now  Mrs.  D.  Cover  was  elected  county  super- 
intendent of  schools  in  1894.  She  was  the  daughter  of  J. 
S.  Whittenberg  who  had  served  in  the  same  office  30  years 
before.  She  filled  her  position  admirably,  in  fact,  she  set 
such  an  excellent  example  that  Miss  Emma  Rebman  was 
elected  to  the  same  position  soon  after.  The  quality  of  the 
service  rendered  by  these  women  is  of  as  high  standard 
as  that  given  by  men. 

The  custom  of  an  annual  graduating  exercise  for  the 
pupils  of  the  county  who  had  finished  the  eighth  grade  was 
begun  in  1891  under  the  supervision  of  M.  T.  Vancleve, 
County  Superintendent.  These  exercises  are  always  held 
at  the  county  seat  some  time  after  the  close  of  the  school 
term  with  appropriate  program  and  are  a  stimulus  to  the 
students  to  finish  the  course,  especially  those  who  intend 
to  take  a  higher  education.  These  county  certificates  en- 
title the  holder  to  entrance  in  any  accredited  high  school 
without  an  examination. 

The  number  of  pupils  for  all  graduating  classes  could 
not  be  definitely  obtained.  The  following  are  the  figures 
available:  1892,  16  or  18;  1894,  20;  1896,  32;  1900,  23; 
1901,  13;  1903,  29;  1904,  64;  1905,  35;  1906,  59;  1907, 
55;  1908,  100;  1909,  30;  1910,  13;  1911,  40;  1912,  47;  1913, 
109;  1914,  126;  1917,  63;  1918,  237;  1919,  208;  1920,  165; 
1921,  176;  1922,  203;  1923,  101;  1924,  110.  The  very 
appropriate  ceremony  of  planting  a  county  class  tree  was 
begun  under  Miss  Rebman  in  1913.  In  addition  to  the 
graduation  there  are  state  scholarships  in  the  form  of 
four  years  free  tuition  in  any  normal  or  university  in  the 
state  given  to  the  pupil  making  the  highest  grade  in  the 
township.  The  students  securing  the  scholarships  for  1918 
were  G.  E.  Chamness,  Goreville;  Allen  Cavitt,  Tunnel 
Hill;  Velma  Harper,  New  Burnside;  Nora  Smoot,  Simp- 
son; Laura  Soper,  Bloomfield;  Evert  Elkins,  Elvira;  Opal 
Brown,  Grantsburg;  Violet  Avery,  Vienna;  Edith  Bishop, 
Cache. 

The  State  Fair  School  of  Domestic  Science  was  organ- 
ized in  1896  under  the  supervision  of  the  State  Agricul- 
tural Association.  Any  county  having  an  agricultural 
association  may  send  one  representative  to  this  school  and 
under  certain  conditions  two.  Miss  Jennett  Heaton  was 
given  honorable  mention  for  grades  made  during  the  term 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY  101 


of  1919.  The  State  Fair  School  for  boys  was  organized  in 
1910  under  the  same  association  as  the  Domestic  Science. 
Each  county  is  entitled  to  two  delegates.  Johnson  County 
has  usually  taken  advantage  of  this  opportunity  and  profit- 
ed therefrom.  F.  M.  Simpson,  a  Johnson  County  boy, 
had  charge  of  this  State  Fair  School  as  instructor  in  1911. 
The  instructors  are  from  the  University  of  Illinois.  William 
M.  Grisson  did  much  during  his  term  of  office  as  county 
superintendent  of  schools,  to  interest  the  farmer  boys;  he 
organized  a  "Farmers  Boys'  Club"  which  reached  a  mem 
bership  of  400.  He  offered  prizes  for  the  best  corn  and 
pigs  and  created  a  lively  interest  among  the  young  agricul- 
turists. This  stimulation  of  interest  was  much  needed  as 
there  had  been  a  tendency  for  many  years  to  get  away  from 
the  farm. 

The  first  teachers  meeting  or  institute  that  was  held 
in  the  county  was  under  the  supervision  of  H.  M.  Riden- 
hower,  Sr.,  who  began  teaching  in  this  county,  1855,  and 
J.  F.  McCartney,  of  Massac  County,  father  of  M.  N.  who 
is  now  principal  of  the  V.  T.  H.  S.»in  1859  or  60.  The 
Civil  War  interfered  somewhat  with  education  and  al- 
though the  meetings  may  have  been  continued  in  some  form 
the  first  regular  institute  with  program  and  teachers  was 
held  at  the  old  C.  P.  or  Union  Church  in  Vienna,  September 
12  and  13,  1878  with  P.  T.  Chapman  as  County  Superin- 
tendent of  Public  Instruction.  From  that  time,  teachers 
institutes  have  been  annual  events  in  the  county.  They 
have  added  prestige  to  the  school  teacher  and  meant  much 
to  them  in  many  ways,  especially  before  attendance  at  the 
Southern  Illinois  Normal  became  so  general.  During  the 
summer  term,  1885,  Dr.  D.  B.  Parkinson  now  deceased,  of 
the  Southern  Illinois  Normal  University,  came  to  Johnson 
County  as  an  instructor  for  the  county  institute  for  teach- 
ers, and  was  recalled  regularly  in  that  capacity  for  ten 
years.  This  may  explain  the  large  number  of  Johnson 
County  teachers  at  Southern  Normal. 

This  story  of  education  so  far  has  dealt  mainly  with 
elementary  education :  there  is  still  a  good  deal  to  be  said 
concerning  higher  education  in  the  county.  The  city  of 
Vienna  realizing  the  need  of  and  having  a  suitable  build- 
ing which  had  just  been  finished,  opened  a  high  school  at 
its  own  expense  in  1894,  with  Professor  M.  N.  McCartney 


102  A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


as  Superintendent.  Other  teachers  for  the  first  year  were 
Miss  Letha  Simmons,  (McFatridge),  Miss  Kate  Gray,  Miss 
Lute  Fisher,  Miss  Etta  Craig  (deceased).  This  school 
filled  a  long  needed  want  in  the  community  and  was  a  suc- 
cess from  the  very  beginning.  The  first  commencement 
was  held  May  10,  1895,  at  the  M.  E.  Church  with  the  fol- 
lowing as  members  of  the  class:  Misses  Essie  Beal,  Ila 
Covington,  Belle  Trammell,  Anna  B.  Hook,  Ada  B.  McCali, 
Ida  E.  Spann;  Messers  Walter  Jackson,  George  L.  Elkins, 
James  Polk  Simpson,  Eugene  McCali.  Dr.  Bratton  as 
president  of  the  board  presented  the  diplomas.  And  the 
citizens  of  the  little  community  felt  justly  proud  of  the 
high  school.  Professor  McCartney  continued  as  principal 
for  years.  He  was  succeeded  in  this  capacity  by  Profes- 
sors Rubelt,  Harry  O'Brine,  M.  T.  Van  Cleve,  Ray  Springer 
Smith,  A.  L.  Whittenberg  and  A.  C.  Lentz.  The  exercises 
for  the  final  year  were  also  held  at  the  M.  E.  Church,  May 
15,  1914.  Four  girls  constituted  the  class,  Francis  Simp- 
son, Harris  Ridenhower,  Mary  Hooker,  and  Mae  Arnold, 
Mrs.  P.  T.  Chapman  presented  the  diplomas  as  president 
of  the  board ;  and  L.  0.  Whitnell,  of  East  St.  Louis,  form- 
erly of  Vienna,  made  the  class  address.  Thus  ended  our 
once  high  hopes  but  the  need  for  a  high  school  was  greater 
than  ever  and  while  the  burden  of  supporting  one  was 
heavier  than  the  small  town  could  bear  it  was  thought 
there  must  be  some  way  to  provide  one. 

There  had  been  some  agitation  for  a  township  high 
school  for  some  time  and  in  1911  the  question  of  equiping 
and  supporting  one  was  presented  to  the  people.  The  peti- 
tion was  lost  by  a  vote  of  two  to  one,  but  the  necessity 
was  so  great  and  the  promoters  were  so  determined  that 
the  matter  was  presented  again  in  1913.  It  carried  by  a 
majority  of  18  votes.  Because  of  the  time  it  took  to  issue 
and  place  the  bonds;  the  school  did  not  open  till  the  fall  of 
1914.  M.  T.  Van  Cleve  was  chosen  first  principal  with 
Mr.  Myer,  of  Clinton,  Miss  Pritchard,  of  Lagrange,  Mo., 
as  teacher.  The  residence  of  James  Carter  was  rented  for 
the  term.  This  was  a  large  house  built  many  years  ago  by 
Colonel  Samuel  Hess  and  occupied  by  him  as  a  residence. 
Although  it  was  a  commodious  and  elegant  residence  it 
was  not  suitable  for  a  school.  Notwithstanding  the  opposi- 
tion and  the  inadequacy  of  the  building  and  equipment, 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY  103 


it  was  a  most  successful  year  with  an  enrollment  of  ninety- 
five  and  a  graduating  class  of  six. 

A  petition  was  circulated  and  an  election  held  to  dis- 
continue the  high  school,  June,  1915.  This  election  was 
contested,  but  the  objections  were  up-held.  As  soon  as  pos- 
sible another  petition  asking  for  a  high  school  was  circu- 
lated and  presented  to  the  County  Superintendent.  She 
ordered  an  election  September  4th,  1915,  and  the  proposi- 
tion carried  by  the  small  margin  of  two  votes.  This  de- 
cision insured  a  high  school  and  the  work  went  on.  A  site 
was  decided  by  ballot.  The  following  year,  February, 
1916,  the  matter  of  voting  bonds  for  a  building  was  carried 
by  sixty-six  majority.  This  vote  demonstrated  the  change 
in  sentiment  in  favor  of  higher  education. 

The  township  high  school  building  was  begun  in  the 
summer  of  1918  at  a  most  expensive  and  inconvenient  time. 
Labor  and  material  were  both  high  and  hard  to  get.  The 
cost  was  perhaps  one-half  more  than  it  would  have  been 
if  the  project  had  not  been  opposed  so  vigorously  in  the 
beginning  and  the  building  had  been  erected  two  years  be- 
fore. 

The  term  of  1919-1920  was  taught  in  the  second  story 
of  Chapman's  brick  building  which  faces  the  square  and 
runs  along  North  Fifth  street  to  Vine.  Prof.  M.  N.  Mc- 
Cartney was  again  at  the  helm  as  principal.  The  graduat- 
ing exercises  of  1920  were  held  in  the  high  school  building. 
The  wisdom  of  the  majority  was  confirmed  that  year  in  the 
large  enrollment  of  one  hundred  and  seventy  five  pupils. 
The  present  high  school  is  housed  in  a  large  two  story 
brick  building  supplied  with  auditorium,  class  rooms,  recep- 
tion room,  domestic  science  room,  all  equipped  for  use. 
There  is  an  excellent  heating  plant,  a  lighting  system,  and 
a  private  acetyline  gas  plant  for  the  household  science  room. 
It  is,  in  other  words,  in  every  way  an  up-to-date  and  mod- 
ern school  building.  It  was  finished  in  1920  at  a  total  cost 
of  $70,000.00. 

The  following  statement  of  the  financial  condition  of 
the  V.  T.  H.  in  1922  will  go  a  long  ways  to  affirm  the  wis- 
dom of  establishing  the  high  school.  Tuition  from  Johnson 
County  non-high  school  districts  $5,902.36,  from  Pulaski 
County  $264.00,  from  Pope  County  $88.00,  individual 
$19.32.     For  the  year  1923,  tuition  from  non-high  school 


104  A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


district  $5,844.27,  from  Pulaski  County  $86.70,  from  Pope 
County  $120.00,  total  $6,050.97. 

During  the  time  of  our  city  high  school,  1904,  the 
Southwestern  League  was  formed  including  several  schools 
in  this  section  of  the  state.  The  object  of  this  league  was 
to  test  the  intellectual,  physical,  and  artistic  capacity  of  the 
several  schools.  In  1905  Vienna  won  the  Intellectual  and 
Athletic  banner.  At  different  times  they  won  several  points 
in  other  contests,  but  not  a  sufficient  number  to  secure  the 
banner.  S.  J.  Hess,  now  a  student  at  the  Ann  Arbor  Law 
School,  represented  the  Vienna  township  high  school,  at  the 
Interscholastic  Meet  in  Urbana,  in  1916,  and  won  five  points 
for  the  school. 

Archie  Mathis,  another  Johnson  County  son  made  the 
wrestling  team  at  University  of  Illinois,  1924.  This  team 
won  the  championship  of  the  Big  Ten  Conference  that  year. 
He  has  a  medal  for  individual  work  as  a  wrestler,  welter 
weight,  145  pounds,  and  was  selected  by  Walter  Eckersal 
for  his  all  All  Western  Wrestling  Team,  1924.  Each  year 
the  V.  T.  H.  S.  has  maintained  a  good  foot  ball  team  ready 
to  meet  at  all  times  any  challenge  offered.  Ralph  Chapman, 
a  Johnson  County  boy  was  selected  as  captain  of  the  Univer- 
sity of  Illinois  foot  ball  team  1913.  This  team  defeated  Chi- 
cago University  team  of  1914  which  had  not  happened 
many  times  before.  This  team  also  won  the  championship 
of  the  Six  Conference  Gridiron  Teams  the  same  year.  Chap- 
man was  unanimous  choice  as  All  Western  Guard  and  was 
selected  by  Walter  Camp  on  his  honorary  "All  American 
Team"  as  the  greatest  guard  of  the  year." 

Encouragement  has  been  given  on  different  occasions 
to  the  students  of  the  county  in  a  small  way  offering  prizes 
for  papers  of  their  own  composition.  Daniel  Chapman 
Chapter  D.  A.  R.  offered  a  prize  in  1912  to  any  student  in 
the  county  who  would  write  the  best  essay  on  "The  Ameri- 
can Flag."  Ray  Ford  of  Robinson  district,  received  the 
first  prize  and  Joseph  W.  Looney  of  Oliver  district  the  sec- 
ond. The  same  society  offered  another  prize  the  following 
year  on  the  subject  of  "Good  Roads."  Miss  Sara  J.  Aus- 
broks,  of  Vienna,  secured  first  prize,  Orin  Nobles,  of  Bun- 
combe, the  second  and  Marie  Stanley  of  Vienna  high  school, 
received  honorable  mention.  In  1921  a  prize  was  offered 
to  the  high  school  girls  for  the  best  paper  on  "Why  should 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY  105 


I  become  a  nurse."  This  topic  was  suggested  by  the  Red 
Cross  to  stimulate  interest  in  the  duty  of  nursing.  Thy 
prize  of  money  was  donated  by  citizens;  Mrs.  Maggie  Hill 
taking  the  trouble  to  collect  it  and  put  the  proposition  be- 
fore the  superintendent.  The  first  prize  went  to  Miss  Essye 
Watson,  second  to  Miss  Francis  Harvick,  third  to  Miss  May 
Hankins.  In  1920  a  study  of  the  ability  of  seniors  in  the 
accredited  high  schools  of  the  state  to  write  English  was 
made.  A  subject  was  assigned  and  themes  were  written 
simultaneously  by  seniors  in  accredited  high  schools.  These 
themes  were  submitted  to  the  University  of  Illinois  and 
were  there  scored  by  the  Hilaegas  method.  Of  the  three 
hundred  and  twenty-one  public  high  schools  submitting, 
V.  T.  H.  S.  ranked  first.  It  was  third  of  all  the  schools. 
Two  private  high  schools ;  Mckendrie,  of  Lebanon,  was  first ; 
and  Villa  De'  Chantel,  an  academy  in  Rock  Island  was  sec- 
ond. 

Another  fact  showing  the  lasting  influence  of  the  high 
school  is  the  life  of  the  Alumni  Association.  This  society 
was  organized  the  second  year  of  the  city  high  school,  1896, 
and  has  been  a  part  of  each  years'  school  events  since  then. 
It  is  now  twenty-eight  years  old. 

PRESS 

The  first  newspaper  published  in  Johnson  County  be- 
gan it's  existence  some  time  in  the  year  1858,  possibly  in  the 
later  part  of  1857,  the  exact  date  is  not  known,  but  the 
delinquent  tax  list  for  the  county  was  printed  in  "The  Jones- 
boro  Gazette"  of  Union  County,  May  1857,  which  is  proof 
there  was  no  paper  published  in  our  county  at  that  time. 
J.  D.  Moody  was  the  owner  and  publisher  of  this  initial 
journal.  It  was  known  as  "The  Johnson  County  Enquirer." 
It  was  a  small  sheet  about  one  fourth  the  size  of  the  ordi- 
nary county  paper  of  today  and  was  issued  weekly.  Moody 
must  have  continued  as  editor  two  or  three  years.  Mrs. 
Eliza  Dwyer  says  he  left  here  about  the  time  of  the  break- 
ing out  of  the  Civil  War  and  that  his  wife  issued  the  paper  a 
short  while  after  he  left.  We  find  Jasper  Johnson  pub- 
lished, presumably,  the  same  paper  in  1861  under  the  name 
of  "The  Advertiser."  Johnson  enlisted  in  the  Union  army 
1862,  and  Andrew  Roberts  took  charge,  changing  the  nam*, 
to  "The  Union  Courier,"  Roberts  gave  a  receipt  to  the 
sheriff,  for  advertising  land  sales,  August,  1862,  showing 
he  still  had  charge  of  the  paper  at  that  time. 


106  A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


The  political  tendency  of  the  paper  must  have  been 
republican,  judging  from  the  name  and  an  editorial  pub- 
lished in  the  "Courier"  in  1864,  of  which  the  following  is 
a  part:  "It  is  an  undisputed  fact,  so  far  as  we  can  learn, 
that  Hon.  A.  J.  Kuykendall  is  able  to  more  fully  concen- 
trate the  strength  of  the  Union  element  of  the  thirteenth 
Congressional  district  than  any  other  one  man."  This  shows 
which  side  of  the  great  question  this  paper  was  on  at  that 
time.  There  is  also  a  communication  from  Captain  John 
T.  Mozley  of  the  120th  Illinois  Volunteer  Infantry  in  the 
same  issue,  as  follows :  "Casualties  resulting  from  the  trip 
through  Mississippi,  Private  John  Wood  killed  instantly  and 
left  on  the  field;  wounded,  Johnathan  B.  Green;  missing, 
Lieut.  W.  A.  Francis,  James  H.  Read,  Sergts.,  Charles  A. 
Bain,  Absalom  English,  Henry  C.  Mullinax;  Privates,  John 
B.  Cline,  James  F.  Farris,  John  Jones,  Aron  T.  Fain,  John 
Sereds  and  John  D.  Young."  Jasper  Johnson  was  again 
editor  in  1864  as  a  receipt  to  the  sheriff  for  printing  con- 
firms this  fact  and  it  may  have  been  he  was  editor  when 
the  above  was  published.  The  paper  was  sold  to  Crum  & 
Hogg,  who  published  it  for  a  short  time,  as  we  find  T.  A. 
Stewart  succeeded  them  in  1866. 

The  authentic  history  of  the  paper  at  this  time  is  that 
0.  A.  Harker  and  Charles  W.  Bliss,  two  young  men  em- 
ployed in  our  schools  as  teachers,  bought  the  paper  in  1867 
and  issued  it  as  a  side  line  with  their  teaching.  0.  A.  Har- 
ker's  history  is  well  known  to  our  citizens,  and  Bliss  be- 
came well  known  as  an  editor.  He  edited  "The  Montgom- 
ery News"  and  gained  nation  wide  fame  through  his  hum- 
orous "weather  prognostications." 

Bliss,  years  afterwards,  told  his  first  experience  as  a 
journalist  at  a  press  meeting,  as  follows :  "Harker  and  I 
bought  this  paper  at  Vienna,  and  tried  publishing  it  for 
awhile,  when  a  man  came  along  wanting  to  buy  a  paper. 
This  man  felt  that  he  was  not  financially  able  to  buy  the 
entire  plant  but  made  a  contract  to  take  over  a  half  interest. 
He  had  but  one  eye.  Harker  and  I  were  so  anxious  to  be 
rid  of  this  paper  that  we  got  the  whole  thing  off  on  him  be- 
cause of  the  defect  in  his  sight."  The  man  referred  to  in 
Bliss'  story  was  the  Rev.  A.  Wright.  He  took  charge  of 
the  paper  in  1868  and  changed  the  name  to  "The  Vienna 
Artery."     He,    with    his    sons    as    associates,  forming  A. 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY  107 


Wright  &  Co.,  continued  its  publication  till  1872.  It  was 
at  this  time  a  seven  column  paper,  with  one  side  printed 
away  from  home,  and  was  issued  weekly  at  $1.50  per  year. 

A.  Wright  &  Co.  sold  the  paper  to  T.  A.  Stewart,  who 
published  it  about  two  years  under  the  name  of  "The  Her- 
ald." In  1874,  A.  J.  Alden  bought  this  paper  and  another 
small  paper,  published  here  by  George  Johnson,  called  "The 
Vienna  News"  which  he  consolidated  into  "The  Journal" 
and  thus  were  brought  together  the  two  papers  represent- 
ing the  two  different  factions  which  had  existed  in  the 
county. 

Later  Alden  moved  to  Anna  and  J.  J.  Penny  succeeded 
him  as  editor  and  publisher  for  a  year  or  two.  "The  Jour- 
nal" fell  into  the  hands  of  T.  Chapman  and  was  edited  by 
J.  B.  Chapman  for  a  short  time,  when  the  plant  with  its 
good  will  was  sold  to  M.  A.  Smith  in  1876.  The  paper 
had  been  issued  as  the  exponent  of  republican  principles, 
at  least  since  1864,  and  for  twelve  years,  Smith  having  re- 
christened  it  "The  Johnson  County  Journal,"  continued  its 
publication  along  these  same  lines.  In  1888,  he  decided  to 
dedicate  one  page  of  the  paper  to  the  Prohibition  cause  and 
issued  it  as  a  Prohibition  paper  under  the  name  of  "The 
Journal"  till  1892. 

J.  F.  Hight  and  W.  D.  Deans  bought  the  paper  from. 
Smith,  changed  its  name  to  "The  Reformer"  and  again 
turned  its  interest  to  the  Republican  cause.  After  a  short 
time  they  sold  it  to  T.  J.  Murray,  1894,  who  devoted  it  en- 
tirely to  the  interests  of  the  "Peoples  Party.  In  1895  the 
plant  and  office  was  burned.  Thus  ended  the  life  of  this 
struggling  press,  which  had  existed  almost  forty  years  in 
our  midst.  We  realize  now  the  necessity  of  the  local  paper, 
but  it  was  not  appreciated  nor  so  well  supported  in  its 
early  existence  as  at  the  present  time.  "The  Journal"  was 
issued  weekly  for  $1.00  a  year  until  1886  when  the  price 
was  raised  to  $1.25. 

"The  Johnson  County  Yoeman"  was  established  here 
in  1874,  by  F.  W.  Shuckers  of  Cairo,  and  was  first  issued  in 
the  interest  of  the  Farmers  Club  campaign.  This  paper 
was  later  devoted  to  the  propagation  of  democratic  prin- 
ciples, Shuckers  was  followed  as  editor  by  John  T.  Keith, 
who  had  charge  for  about  two  years,  when  T.  G.  Farris,  Jr. 


108  A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


took  it  over  and  continued  its  publication  on  this  line  till  his 
death,  in  1879,  when  the  paper  was  discontinued  and  the 
press  was  moved  to  Metropolis. 

Dr.  C.  A.  Parker  established  a  Democratic  paper 
here  in  June,  1888,  calling  it  "The  Egyptian  Democrat." 
He  sold  it  the  following  September  to  his  brother,  Lucas, 
who  continued  its  publication  for  twenty-two  years.  This 
was  a  long  time  for  a  Democratic  paper  to  survive  in  such 
a  decidedly  Republican  community,  demonstrating  the  pop- 
ularity of  the  editor. 

"The  Burnside  Bugler"  was  published  semi-monthly 
at  New  Burnside  by  George  Harris  of  that  village,  1893, 
for  a  short  time.  R.  A.  Hundley  bought  the  "Vienna  Her- 
ald," a  Republican  paper  published  here,  1897,  and  moved 
it  to  Tunnel  Hill  where  it  was  issued  as  "The  Johnson 
County  Republican."     It  lived  less  than  a  year. 

For  a  short  while,  from  1878  to  1880,  there  was  only 
one  Republican  paper  in  Johnson  County.  In  1897  there 
were  two  Republican  papers  published  here,  "The  Johnson 
County  Herald"  and  "The  Vienna  Times,"  also  one  Demo- 
cratic paper  "The  Vienna  Democrat." 

"The  Goreville  News"  was  a  weekly  paper  founded  in 
Goreville  about  1901  by  Isaac  Cooper;  its  policy  was  inde- 
pendent. It  was  issued  successively  by  John  Cremeans, 
Cooper  Stout,  Ebert  Thulen  and  finally  sold  to  T.  H.  Sheri- 
dan in  1905.  He  brought  it  to  Vienna  and  published  it  as 
"The  Vienna  News"  till  1910.  Sheridan  engaged  in  a  con- 
test, publishing  scurrilous  articles  against  the  county 
officers  and  others  which  created  a  great  deal  of  bad  feel- 
ing. It  engendered  bitterness  between  some  of  the  citizens 
of  the  county  which  took  many  years  to  overcome,  and  fin- 
ally resulted  in  Sheridan's  killing  of  Harry  Thacker,  be- 
cause of  an  attack  he  had  made  on  Harry's  father,  F.  B. 
Thacker,  as  a  county  commissioner.  In  September,  1905, 
T.  M.  Jones,  a  citizen  of  Goreville  Township,  began  publish- 
ing "The  Goreville  Record,"  W.  H.  Hardesty,  a  Mr.  Bramble 
and  J.  U.  S.  Terry  were  editors  of  this  paper  at  different 
times.  It  was  suspended  in  1913,  having  been  issued  as  an 
independent  journal. 

"The  Commercial  Enterprise"  was  a  weekly  paper 
edited  and  published  in  Cypress  by  J.  S.  Moffit.     It  began 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY  109 


life  in  1915  and  was  suspended  some  time  in  1917.  E.  R. 
Estes  also  tried  the  experiment  of  issuing  a  paper  in  Cy- 
press beginning  in  1920.  It  was  called  the  "County  Re- 
view" and  was  suspended  after  a  short  existence.  Publish- 
ing a  newspaper  has  been  a  very  expensive  business  for  the 
last  few  years  on  account  of  the  high  cost  of  labor  and  ma- 
terial and  one  must  be  well  established  to  be  able  to  make  a 
success. 

In  1879  A.  K.  and  M.  W.  Vickers  began  the  publishing 
of  a  Democratic  paper  in  Vienna,  called  "The  Vienna 
Weekly  Times,"  bringing  the  press  from  Metropolis.  They 
remained  in  the  journalistic  field  about  a  year.  G.  L.  Stout 
followed  as  editor  for  a  short  while,  when  the  paper  was 
put  in  charge  of  T.  J.  Parker,  1882,  and  was  issued  in  the 
interest  of  the  Republican  party.  It  was  sold  to  George  W. 
Ballance  and  Ed.  F.  Morton,  1883.  There  was  quite  a  war 
of  words  between  the  "Johnson  County  Journal"  and  "The 
Vienna  Times"  under  the  regimes  of  Vickers  and  also  of 
Morton  but  not  of  serious  nature  and  only  seemed  to  create 
a  little  amusement  for  the  public. 

In  1885  W.  H.  Gilliam  bought  a  half  interest  in  "The 
Times"  and  the  following  year  became  sole  owner  and  pub- 
lisher. He  continued  in  this  capacity  till  his  death  which 
occurred  in  1919.  Under  his  management  the  paper  in- 
creased in  circulation  and  influence;  one  could  always  de- 
pend on  what  they  saw  in  "The  Times."  It  is  an  established 
fact  that  no  editor  ever  enjoyed  the  confidence  of  his  read- 
ers more  than  did  W.  H.  Gilliam,  always  loyal  to  his  party, 
and  scrupulously  vigorous  for  the  truth  and  right  as  he  saw 
it.  C.  J.  Huffman  and  H.  T.  Bridges  bought  the  paper  in 
1920.  The  following  year  Huffman  sold  to  Bridges,  who  is 
now  editor  and  proprietor.  "The  Vienna  Times"  has  been 
a  constant  exponent  of  Republican  doctrine  and  a  weekly 
visitor  in  many  homes  for  more  than  forty  years.  Its  cir- 
culation is  reaching  out  to  every  part  of  the  United  States 
where  a  loyal  native  born  Johnson  County  son  or  daughter 
resides.  This  is  the  only  paper  published  in  the  county  and 
has  a  circulation  of  2,200  (1924). 

VIENNA  CARNEGIE  LIBRARY 
The  Vienna  Public  Library  owes  its  origin  to  a  dis- 
cussion held  in  the  directors'  room  of  the  First  National 


110  A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


Bank  of  Vienna  sometime  during  the  year  1894.  The  con- 
versation was  introduced  by  M.  N.  McCartney,  Principal 
of  the  high  school  for  the  reason  that  he  was  striving  to 
have  the  new  high  school  meet  the  requirements  of  the 
State  University,  and  the  school  district  was  not  able  finan- 
cially to  furnish  a  high  school  library  to  meet  the  de- 
mands. Those  present  at  this  conference  were  P.  T.  Chap- 
man, A.  K.  Vickers,  W.  E.  Beal,  G.  B.  Gillespie,  M.  N.  Mc- 
Cartney and  John  B.  Jackson,  each  of  whom  expressed 
themselves  as  being  in  favor  of  a  public  library.  It  was 
advised  that  J.  B.  Jackson,  M.  N.  McCartney,  and  Mrs. 
May  Chapman  circulate  a  subscription  asking  for  donations 
of  money,  books,  magazines  and  furniture  to  equip  the 
room  and  pay  for  a  few  books  and  magazine  subscriptions. 
The  committee  followed  out  the  plan.  P.  T.  Chapman  was 
the  largest  cash  subscriber,  J.  B.  Jackson,  Charles  Cunning- 
ham, Sr.,  and  M.  N.  McCartney  were  the  second,  each  of 
the  last  named  giving  like  amounts.  Messrs.  W.  Y.  Smith 
and  W.  C.  Simpson  gave  a  collection  of  books  equal  in  value 
to  Mr.  Chapman's  donation.  Mrs.  Winnie  Bain  subscribed 
cash  and  gave  a  large  table  to  be  used  in  the  reading  room, 
M.  T.  Van  Cleve,  Superintendent  of  Schools,  donated  a  large 
office  stove,  business  men  and  young  people  gave  from  five 
to  twenty  dollars  each,  high  school  students  from  twenty- 
five  cents  to  one  dollar  each,  all  members  of  the  city  council 
ordered  their  salary  for  that  year  credited  to  the  library 
fund. 

John  B.  Jackson  and  M.  N.  McCartney  wrote  the  ordin- 
ance authorizing  the  library  as  a  city  institution  under  the 
Illinois  statutes  known  as  the  "two  mill  tax."  The  mem- 
bers of  the  council  were  Dr.  A.  H.  Hooker,  Julius  Parker, 
and  William  Moore.  The  city  attorney,  George  W.  English, 
revised  the  ordinance.  J.  B.  Jackson  presented  it  for  adop- 
tion. W.  C.  Simpson  was  mayor,  and  D.  L.  Chapman,  as 
a  member  of  the  council  moved  to  adopt  the  ordinance. 
Passage  was  thus  effected  at  once.  W.  C.  Simpson,  as 
mayor,  appointed  as  the  first  public  library  board,  January 
2,  1895,  W.  Y.  Smith,  Reverend  J.  H.  Ford,  M.  N.  McCart- 
ney, J.  B.  Jackson,  J.  H.  Carter,  Sr.,  Elder  G.  Lay  Wolfe, 
Mrs.  May  Chapman,  Mrs.  Sarah  Poor,  and  Miss  Sarah 
Whittenberg.  The  city  council  immediately  tendered  the 
use  of  the  council  chamber  to  be  used  as  a  library  room. 
Miss   Delia  McKenzie   was  elected   first  librarian.     J.   B. 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY  111 


Jackson  visited  the  public  library  of  Cairo,  Illinois,  and  pro- 
cured copies  of  their  rules,  regulations  and  cards  as  a  model 
for  our  modest  beginning,  thus  the  library  was  opened  to 
the  public,  February  16,  1895  with  the  reading  tables  as  the 
chief  feature.  The  first  subscriptions  in  money  and  material 
aggregated  $400.00.  The  next  tax  levy  amounted  to  $200.00. 
Almost  every  citizen  of  the  town  had  some  part  in  this  en- 
terprise. Two  women,  Mrs.  May  Chapman  and  Mrs.  Sarah 
Poor  rendered  very  active  service  in  establishing  this 
library. 

The  first  meeting  was  held  January  5,  1895  and  the 
members  present  were  McCartney,  Ford,  Smith,  Poor,  Whit- 
tenberg,  Chapman  and  Jackson.  M.  N.  McCartney  was 
elected  president  and  J.  B.  Jackson,  secretary.  Other  com- 
mittees necessary  for  the  maintaining  of  the  work  were 
appointed  and  things  moved  along  well.  The  first  location 
was  a  room  in  the  Bratton  and  Ridenhower  building,  which 
stood  about  where  Dave  Roseberg's  Clothing  Store  now 
stands.  In  March,  1896,  the  library  was  moved  to  what 
was  then  known  as  the  Jobe  building,  where  the  hardware 
store  of  J.  F.  Farris  is  now  located  on  Vine  Street,  paying 
twenty-five  dollars  per  year  and  occupying  it  with  the  city 
council.  The  Vienna  Womans  Club  furnished  a  room  and 
held  their  meetings  there,  thus  adding  a  room  without  extra 
expense  to  the  library.  We  had  three  very  good  rooms  here 
and  had  added  quite  a  collection  of  books.  In  March,  1900, 
the  books  were  damaged  by  fire  from  an  adjoining  build- 
ing, but  the  library  continued  in  this  building  until  July  7, 
1908,  when  the  building  including  the  library,  was  entirely 
destroyed  by  fire.  The  five  hundred  dollars  insurance  on 
the  library  was  paid  in  full.  Rooms  were  secured  with  the 
Womans  Club  in  the  Chapman  Building,  and  the  library  re- 
opened in  September,  1909,  with  a  limited  number  of  books, 
where  it  remained  till  our  present  commodious  quarters,  so 
graciously  made  possible  by  Andrew  Carnegie,  were  ready. 

The  secretary  of  the  library  board  made  application  co 
Mr.  Carnegie  in  1901,  but  failed  to  secure  a  donation.  In 
1907,  Mrs.  May  Chapman  as  a  member  of  the  library  board 
wrote  Mr.  Bertarm,  Secretary  to  Mr.  Carnegie,  asking  a 
donation  for  a  building  for  the  Vienna  Public  Library.  A 
blank  was  received  by  W.  C.  Simpson,  our  mayor,  setting 
forth  the  requirements  which  were  that  we  furnish  a  suit- 
able lot  and  a  yearly  levy  of  ten  per  cent  of  the  amount 


112  A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


given  for  the  building.  A  lot  was  purchased  from  O.  E. 
Harvick  at  the  consideration  of  $1,000.  W.  C.  Simpson,  T. 
E.  Boyd,  A.  J.  Kuykendall,  as  members  of  the  board,  were 
appointed  to  solicit  the  money.  Mr.  Harvick  donated 
$250.00  on  the  price  of  the  lot,  and  the  next  on  the  list  was 
a  cash  subscription  of  $200.00  from  P.  T.  Chapman.  The 
remainder  being  immediately  subscribed  by  the  progressive 
and  interested  citizens  of  our  town.  After  some  delay  about 
the  plans  the  corner  stone  was  laid  January  18,  1911.  The 
Masonic  Fraternity  performed  the  ceremony.  Mr.  T.  E. 
Gillespie  acted  as  Grand  Master  and  Prof.  A.  L.  Whitten- 
berg  made  the  address.  The  original  donation  of  Mr.  Car- 
negie was  $5,000  for  the  erection  of  the  building.  D.  W. 
Whittenberg,  Noel  Whitehead,  W.  M.  Grissom,  Jr.,  formed 
the  building  committee.  After  the  building  had  been  begun, 
it  was  found  more  cash  was  needed  to  finish  it.  Mr.  Car- 
negie quickly  responded  and  the  building  was  finished  at  a 
cost  of  $6,323.00,  for  which  the  citizens  of  Vienna  feel  very 
grateful  to  our  benefactor. 

Vienna  has  a  permanent  improvement  that  not  only 
adds  beauty  to  the  little  city,  but  has  laid  for  its  future 
citizens  a  lasting  foundation  for  improvement  and  culture. 
This  building  was  dedicated  with  appropriate  ceremonies 
October  12,  1911.  The  principal  address  was  given  by  Hon. 
L.  O.  Whitnell,  of  East  St.  Louis,  a  former  townsman.  It 
was  originally  only  open  to  residents  of  the  city  of  Vienna, 
but  since  the  building  of  the  Vienna  Township  High  School 
the  privileges  of  the  library  have  been  extended  to  all  within 
the  high  school  limits. 

The  following  have  served  as  members  of  the  library 
board :  J.  H.  Carter,  Rev.  G.  Lay  Wolfe,  Rev.  J.  H.  Ford, 
Mrs.  May  Chapman,  Mrs.  Sarah  Poor,  W.  Y.  Smith,  Sarah 
P.  Whittenberg,  M.  N.  McCartney,  John  B.  Jackson,  G.  B. 
Gillespie,  Mrs.  Delia  Head,  Mrs.  Letha  McFatridge,  T.  B. 
Powell,  Mrs.  Alice  Damron,  Rev.  A.  J.  LeTell,  A.  J.  Kuy- 
kendall, Ed.  Boyt,  W.  C.  Simpson,  Mrs.  O.  R.  Morgan,  Mrs. 
N.  J.  Benson,  T.  H.  Sheridan,  Mrs.  C.  H.  Gray,  Lucas 
Parker,  Mrs.  Minnie  Dwyer,  G.  W.  English,  W.  M.  Grissom, 
Noel  Whitehead,  Dr.  R.  A.  McCall,  C.  J.  Huffman,  D.  W. 
Whittenberg,  F.  R.  Woelfle.  The  presidents  of  the  board 
have  been  Prof.  M.  N.  McCartney,  J.  H.  Carter,  Sr.,  Hon. 
G.  W.  English,  and  F.  R.  Woelfle,  who  is  still  serving.     Our 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY  113 

secretaries  have  been  J.  B.  Jackson,  W.  Y.  Smith,  T.  B. 
Powell,  A.  J.  Kuykendall,  Lucas  Parker,  D.  W.  Whittenberg, 
and  C.  J.  Huffman.  The  following  have  been  librarians: 
Miss  Delia  McKenzie,  Mrs.  Ada  Gough,  Miss  Maggie  Cole, 
Miss  Bertie  Bratton,  Miss  Winifred  Jackson,  Miss  Bessie 
Chapman,  Miss  Fay  Vander  Plum  and  Miss  Kate  Gray,  who 
is  the  present  incumbent.  For  much  of  this  history  we  are 
indebted  to  our  first  president,  Prof.  M.  N.  McCartney,  who 
did  invaluable  work  in  the  establishing  of  this  needed  in- 
stitution. He  says  that  "After  twenty-nine  years  of  ex- 
perience this  is  the  most  harmonious  and  profitable  enter- 
prise I  have  ever  known  to  be  organized  in  any  struggling 
town,  it  has  been  a  large  factor  in  bringing  the  Vienna 
citizen  body  to  the  best  read  village  population  within  my 
acquaintance." 

CHURCHES 

Religion  and  churches  have  gradually  spread  their 
civilizing  influence  over  our  county  till  one  cannot  help  but 
realize  how  much  these  things  have  to  do  with  the  moral 
conditions  of  a  community.  The  census  of  1850  gives  the 
churches  of  Johnson  County  as  follows:  Presbyterian  1, 
Baptist  3,  Christian  1,  Methodists  4.  The  first  churches 
were  held  in  the  homes  and  school  houses.  One  of  the  oldest 
churches  in  this  county  is  Gillead,  situated  near  Double 
Bridges,  about  two  miles  above  Simpson.  It  is  Presbyter- 
ian in  denomination  and  was  organized  by  James  Alexander 
November  7,  1842.  William  Simpson,  William  Barnwell 
and  Willis  Simpson  were  the  first  elders;  there  were  thir- 
teen other  charter  members,  the  families  of  these  men,  a 
Mrs.  Brills  and  perhaps  other  names  not  known.  The  first 
building  was  erected  in  1856.  David  H.  Birch  donated  the 
land  for  the  church.  Some  later  members  of  this  congrega- 
tion were  B.  M.  Howell,  John  F.  and  J.  L.  Thomas,  a  Mrs. 
Trigg,  George  Hudson,  Charles  Bailey,  Mary  A.  Thomas 
Eliza  Perkins,  and  J.  J.  Simpson,  now  living  at  Creal 
Springs,  was  a  member  there  sixty-five  years  ago.  Lewis 
Simpson  went  out  from  this  church  as  a  minister.  It  is  a 
live  church  today  and  a  home  coming  held  there  in  1923 
gave  evidence  of  its  influence. 

Liberty  Presbyterian  church  was  first  held  in  a  school 
house  northeast  of  Buncombe,  near  Latham  Springs ;  it  was 
organized  as  early  as  1850.    This  building  was  burned  and 


114  A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


a  house  was  built  near  the  present  home  of  William  Nobles 
on  the  farm  of  John  Elkins.  The  church  was  dormant 
several  years  but  was  reorganized  in  1886  by  R.  M.  Pryor 
and  the  building  was  moved  on  the  public  road  near  che 
residence  of  Charles  Peterson.  The  church  house  was  fin- 
ally moved  to  Buncombe  in  1908,  and  designated  the  First 
Presbyterian  Church  of  Buncombe.  They  have  had  no  pas- 
tor since  1917.  Some  of  the  first  members  of  this  church 
were  William  Barnett,  Edward  Dooley,  Henry  Mangum, 
John  Elkins,  Dee  and  Daniel  Simpson,  and  their  ramihes, 
Mrs.  Mary  E.  Chapman,  and  Mr.  Brills.  Much  of  this  data 
was  obtained  from  old  people  and  does  not  include  all  the 
members.  The  character  members  at  the  re-organization 
1886,  were  Gilbert  and  Mary  Barnett,  Jacob  and  M.  A. 
Rebman,  T.  B.  and  Sarah  J.  Steward,  Charles  Jb°tts  and 
Regina  Mangum.  In  1895  this  church  had  thirty-three 
members.  Some  ministers  of  this  church  from  1859  were 
E.  M.  Brooks,  G.  W.  May,  T.  B.  Holloway,  J.  A.  Hill,  G.  M. 
Abney,  J.  A.  Whiteside,  J.  H.  Morphis,  B.  G.  Mangum,  J. 
C.  Thompson,  Louis  J.  Simpson,  and  John  Webb. 

Concord  Society  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  which  is 
situated  near  the  home  of  P.  W.  Rose,  east  of  Vienna  about 
five  miles,  was  organized  by  the  Rev.  William  Standard, 
October  15,  1854.  The  first  ruling  elders  were  G.  B.  Veach, 
A.  B.  Jones,  F.  M.  Stalcup,  S.  D.  Poor,  and  Pleasant  Rose. 
Other  members  were  the  families  of  these  men,  Jackson 
Murrie,  Martha  Veach,  Barney  Shelton,  Artimissa  Prim. 
The  present  building  was  erected  in  1876,  the  architect  was 
John  M.  Jones.  Some  other  members  at  that  time  were, 
James  Rose,  James  W.  Damron,  P.  W.  Rose,  their  families 
and  Parthena  and  Elizabeth  Veach,  Wiley  and  Lucinda 
Holt.  The  baptism  of  two  infant  children  of  the  last  named 
family,  Lucinda  and  Parnesia  Holt,  is  recorded  in  this 
church,  also  the  baptism  of  Charles  L.  and  Emma  D.  Hogg, 
children  of  Rev.  James  and  Rebecca  Hogg. 

Goreville  Presbyterian  Church  is  also  an  old  one,  but 
there  could  be  little  definite  data  of  the  first  organization 
found.  Its  home  was  the  lower  story  of  what  is  known  as 
the  Hall  which  stands  between  the  old  and  new  towns  of 
Goreville.  Some  of  the  first  members  were  Mrs.  Mary  J. 
Gore-Collins,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  T.  H.  Taylor,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bass, 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  George  Gibson.     The  church  was  dormant 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY  115 


several  years  but  was  re-organized  about  1890.  Mrs.  Mattie 
Jones,  (who  gave  the  data)  says  she  remembers  a  minister 
by  the  name  of  Shadowens,  who  preached  at  this  place.  He 
never  used  a  bible  and  the  first  thing  he  would  say  when  he 
entered  the  pulpit  was  that,  "he  could  not  read  a  word  to 
save  ten  thousand  souls."  but  his  sermons  even  in  this  day 
and  age  would  be  wonderful. 

Vienna  had  at  one  time  a  flourishing  Presbyterian 
Church,  which  no  doubt,  was  the  strongest  church  here,  at 
the  time  of  the  building  of  the  Union  Church  on  the  hill, 
where  the  Baptist  Church  now  stands,  as  the  deed  to  the 
church  house  was  made  to  the  Presbyterians,  while  the 
Methodists  and  Baptists  were  given  the  privilege  of  using 
it.  This  was  the  first  church  built  in  the  town.  The  Pres- 
byterian organization  was  formed  sometime  before  1854. 
Samuel  Copeland  and  family,  Henry  and  Mary  Bridges, 
James  H.  Carter  and  family,  James  Hogg  and  family,  atid 
no  doubt  other  families  were  members  of  this  first  church. 
It  has  been  dissolved  for  many  years,  the  members  having 
gone  into  other  churches. 

Some  of  the  early  ministers  of  the  Presbyterian  Church 
were  William  Standard,  James  Hogg,  T.  P.  Wells,  William 
Mangum,  and  W.  M.  Hamilton,  the  first  mentioned  was  pos- 
sibly the  first  minister  of  this  denomination  in  this  section. 

There  were  two  Presbyterian  Churches  organized  in 
the  county  after  1883,  one  at  Latham  Springs,  north  and 
the  other  southwest  of  Vienna,  called  Bethal;  both  have 
been  abandoned.  (This  information  was  given  by  J.  T. 
Davidson.)  No  doubt  the  reason  for  so  many  of  the  Pres- 
byterian churches  being  dormant  in  this  section  is  that  the 
Cumberland  Presbyterian  and  Presbyterian  Churches  were 
united  in  1906  into  the  "Presbyterian  Church  of  the  United 
States."  Many  of  the  members  of  the  Cumberland  Presby- 
terian rebelled  against  this  action  and  refused  to  go  with 
the  main  body  of  the  church. 

Pleasant  Ridge  Presbyterian  Church  near  Bloomfield 
was  organized  1868  by  Louis  J.  Simpson.  Some  of  the 
first  elders  were  J.  V.  and  Henry  Waters,  George  Cooper, 
John  Whiteside,  John  Cooper,  John  Harper,  and  their  fam- 
ilies and  others  whose  names  could  not  be  obtained.  Some 
of  the  ministers  have  been  Rev.  Wykoff,  Charles  Hutchison, 


116  A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


and  Rev.  Rumsey,  Rev.  J.  H.  Morphis  entered  the  ministry 
from  this  county  1875,  and  has  been  a  wonderful  inspiration 
to  the  Presbyterians  here.  He  has  been  called  to  labor  else- 
where, but  says  he  hopes  to  spend  his  last  days  among  the 
people  of  this  county. 

There  are  eleven  Missionary  Baptist  Churches  in  the 
county  at  the  present  time.  There  could  be  no  data  had 
from  Cypress,  Ozark  or  Cedar  Creek.  This  church  was 
organized  in  1836,  and  is,  no  doubt,  the  oldest  Baptist 
church  in  the  county.  The  church  directory  gives  W.  K. 
Brunson,  as  pastor,  and  G.  B.  Shaffer  as  clerk  of  Cypress 
Church,  W.  L.  Motsinger  and  0.  E.  Stout,  as  clerk  of  Ozark 
Church,  A.  N.  Jones  of  Ewing  is  given  as  pastor  and  E.  E. 
Rushing  as  clerk  of  Cedar  Creek  Church.  The  death  of 
Mr.  Rushing  last  year  is,  no  doubt,  the  reason  no  data  could 
be  obtained  from  that  society. 

Friendship  Baptist  Church  is  an  old  church  of  the 
county.  It  was  organized  in  July  1841,  at  the  house  of 
Elijah  Stalcup,  who  lived  on  the  farm  where  Charles  Deans 
now  resides,  with  nine  members  as  follows :  Richard  Char- 
les and  Elizabeth  Walker,  Issac  Worley,  Mary  and  Elizabeth 
Simmons,  Elizabeth  Nichols,  Edith  and  Elizabeth  Johnson. 
The  church  is  located  east  of  Vienna  on  the  Vienna  and 
Golconda  Road.  The  pastor  in  1922  was  B.  J.  Murrie,  the 
clerk  was  W.  P.  Walker. 

Mt.  Zion  Church  is  located  near  Buncombe  and  was 
organized  in  1850.  The  charter  members  were  George  Cal- 
houn, William  Evans,  Mrs.  Mariah  Looney,  Thomas  and 
Betty  Scott,  Jackson  Worley,  and  William  Pearce.  The  last 
named  serving  as  first  pastor,  Carol  Morris,  David  Culp  and 
George  Johnson  were  other  early  pastors.  As  to  salary  they 
received  anything  from  a  hog's  jaw  to  $10  per  year.  There 
is  a  cemetery  near  this  church  in  which  two  soldiers  of  the 
Civil  War  were  the  first  to  be  buried.  Their  names  were 
Bole  Lovelace  and  Harrison  Scott.  H.  C.  Croslin  was  pas- 
tor and  Mrs.  Mary  Stewart  was  clerk,  1922. 

County  Line  Church  was  organized  in  1854.  Some  of 
the  first  members  were  Peter  and  Cynthia  Simmons,  James 
M.  and  Jersey  Triplett,  Daniel  M.  and  Ruth  M.  Kerley,  J. 
R.  and  Sarah  Tucker,  William  and  Brilla  Ann,  Louisa, 
Mary,  Delila,  and  Mary  E.  Nichlos,  Ezekiel  Bowman,  W.  H. 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY  117 


and  Elizabeth  Hunt,  Jane  and  Aaron  Corn,  Sarah  Allen  and 
Mary  Dixon,  the  Ragians,  Morris  and  Burns,  families  were 
also  members.  David  Ragins  was  ordained  to  preach  from 
this  society  many  years  ago.  The  clerk,  states  the  records 
do  not  go  farther  back  than  1870.  George  Smothers  was 
pastor  and  Wayne  Morris  the  clerk,  1922. 

Goreville  Baptist  Church  had  its  beginning  in  1870. 
The  society  was  first  organized  about  two  miles  north  of 
Goreville  and  called  Cana  Baptist  Church.  The  following 
were  charter  members :  James  P.  Henry,  Harriet  and  Eliza- 
beth Burns,  Simpson  and  Jane  Rawhuff,  Hannah  Hubbard, 
R.  Y.  Gurley,  and  Reuben  Henderson,  Elder  William  D. 
Pearce  was  the  first  pastor.  In  August,  1920  this  church 
was  moved  to  Goreville  and  assumed  the  name  of  Goreville 
Baptist  Church.  Homer  Martin  was  the  pastor  and  Dr.  I. 
N.  Graves  the  clerk,  1922.  Elder  Martin  went  out  as  a 
minister  of  this  congregation. 

Pleasant  Grove  Baptist  Church  was  organized  August 
7,  1890.  The  charter  members  were  W.  C.  and  Catherine 
Wilson,  James  Belle  and  Mary  E.  Mathis,  Lavia  Ann  John- 
son, and  Elizabeth  Hogg.  This  church  is  situated  east  of 
Vienna,  near  the  road  leading  to  Metropolis.  The  pastor 
for  1922  was  H.  C.  Croslin,  and  Mrs.  Ida  Beach,  was  clerk. 

The  First  Baptist  Church  of  Simpson  was  begun  by 
Elder  A.  R.  Tucker  in  1876  at  the  McKee  Schoolhouse,  but 
an  organization  was  not  effected  till  1886,  when  seven 
members  were  secured  and  through  the  efforts  of  J.  A. 
Kerley,  B.  A.  McNeely,  and  J.  R.  Tucker,  the  work  was 
completed,  and  the  church  was  known  as  the  Pleasant  Hill 
Baptist  Church.  In  1891  this  church  was  moved  to  Simp- 
son and  services  were  held  in  the  schoolhouse  till  1898, 
when  the  present  home  was  built.  Pastor  for  1922,  J.  D. 
Vaughn,  clerk  J.  A.  Smoot. 

The  Vienna  Baptist  Church  was  organized  sometime 
before  1850,  but  the  records  have  been  burned  and  the  ex- 
act date  and  early  members  cannot  be  obtained.  Mrs.  D. 
Y.  Bridgs,  Samuel  and  Ursula  Hess,  J.  H.  and  Lucy  Card, 
were  a  few  of  the  original  members.  The  society  was  dor- 
mant for  some  time  but  re-organized  in  1886.  Some  of  the 
members  at  that  time  were  J.  S.  Bridges,  H.  Ragins  and 
their  families,  Mrs.  Addie  Morgan  and  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Brat- 
ton.    H.  C.  Croslin  was  pastor  and  H.  Ragain  clerk,  1922. 


118  A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


The  Grantsburg  Baptist  Church  located  at  Grantsburg 
was  organized  in  1896.  Some  of  the  first  members  were 
India,  Elizabeth,  George  Ella  and  Delia  Modglin,  J.  P.  and 
Amanda  Trovillion,  A.  D.,  Edith  and  Sarah  Howell,  Murlie 
Evans,  Elizabeth  and  Mayme  Bowman,  Minnie  Trovillion, 
F.  M.  and  Ella  Simmons,  Grace  Bivins,  Lilly  Farauah,  Flora 
Stout,  Maude  Grisham,  Medora  Hazel,  Mary  Champhire, 
Olaf  Ragsdale,  Pearl  Slankard,  T.  B.  Shelton,  Frank  Will- 
iams, Fannie  Reed,  Cambell  Allard,  P.  G.  Burris,  Alma  and 
Anna  Howell,  Mrs.  Gerturude  Huffman  Allard  was  clerk  in 
1922. 

Some  ministers  of  the  Missionary  Baptist  Church  who 
have  served  the  churches  and  have  been  influential  in  build- 
ing up  this  organization  in  the  county  (given  by  Elder  L.  L. 
Smoot)  are  as  follows:  Carol  Morris,  was  an  uneducated 
man,  but  his  success  was  due  to  his  great  faith  in  God  and 
power  in  prayer.  David  Ragains  was  born  in  North  Caro- 
lina in  1812;  began  his  ministry  from  County  Line  Church 
in  1853.  He  accomplished  a  great  deal  of  good  in  this  coun- 
ty with  very  little  renumeration,  continuing  his  work  until 
1887.  Elders  Wilifred,  William  and  Hekiah  Ferell  were 
among  the  pioneer  preachers  here  as  early  as  1842.  W.  F. 
Van  Cleve  was  a  native  of  Kentucky,  born  in  1813,  came  to 
this  county  in  1850.  He  was  pastor  of  Cedar  Creek  Baptist 
Church  seventeen  years,  a  useful  and  well  informed  man. 
Elder  W.  B.  Pearce  was  born  in  Illinois,  came  to  this  county 
in  1842,  was  ordained  in  1849.  He  made  many  sacrifices 
for  the  cause  of  The  Kingdom.  W.  P.  Throgmorton  was 
born  in  Tennessee,  began  preaching  in  1871.  In  1877  he 
became  editor  of  the  "Baptist  Banner,"  and  is  now  editor 
of  the  Illinois  Baptist,  published  at  Marion,  Illinois.  W.  S. 
Blackman,  served  in  the  Union  Army,  entered  the  ministry 
in  1872.  He  was  a  man  of  very  strong  personality  and  did 
much  good  work  among  the  people  of  this  county.  J.  K. 
Trovillion  belonged  in  Pope  County  and  has  also  been 
valuable  to  the  churches  here.  Elder  J.  L.  Morton  was 
born  in  Virginia  in  1809  and  came  to  Johnson  County,  in 
1862.  He  was  ordained  to  preach  in  1839  and  probably 
preached  as  long  as  any  man  in  this  section.  He  delivered 
a  sermon  at  New  Burnside  the  day  he  was  ninety-four  years 
old,  with  zeal  and  earnestness.  He  had  baptized  one  thous- 
and converts.  His  ministry  extended  over  sixty  years.  Joel 
Johnson  was  a  member  of  Friendship  Church  and  did  much 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY  119 


valuable  work  for  his  church.  G.  W.  Smith  and  T.  F. 
Pullen  of  Massac  County  did  ministry  work  in  this  county 
as  pastors  and  evangelists.  E.  R.  Steagal  was  for  many 
years  a  missionary  here  also  a  pastor  of  much  success.  W. 
A.  Spence  who  served  as  State  Senator  from  this  district  in 
1922  is  one  of  the  most  able  ministers  of  this  state,  and  is 
a  man  among  men,  blazing  his  way  through  his  own  efforts 
from  obscurity  to  an  honored  position.  He  has  served 
several  churches  here  as  pastor.  John  Adams  was  another 
minister  of  this  county.  W.  W.  Woodside  is  another  who 
served  as  a  minister  here.  E.  H.  Caldwell,  lived  many 
years  among  the  people,  and  devoted  his  life  to  the  promo- 
tion of  Christianity  and  the  uplift  of  this  community.  Elder 
A.  W.  Carlton,  a  native  of  Kentucky,  came  here  in  1850, 
was  a  member  of  the  Baptist  Church  seventy  years  and 
preached  over  forty.  Elder  L.  L.  Smoot  is  a  native  of  John- 
son County  and  was  ordained  to  preach  in  1890.  He  has 
served  many  churches  as  pastor  and  held  many  successful 
revivals.  He  is  now  a  state  evangelist  of  the  Baptist  Asso- 
ciation. Other  names  of  Baptist  ministers  are  G.  W.  Pal- 
meiiee,  W.  C.  Cox,  J.  P.  Trovillion,  A.  L.  McNeeley,  0.  J. 
Taylor,  James  and  Bert  Baker.  Elder  L.  L.  Smoot,  esti- 
mates the  number  of  members  of  the  Baptist  Church  of 
this  county  as  about  one  thousand  three  hundred. 

There  are  two  Primitive  Baptist  churches  in  the  coun- 
ty, one  called  Little  Flock,  situated  about  two  miles  south 
east  of  Ozark.  It  was  organized  about  1859,  in  William 
Frizzell's  barn.  The  charter  members  were  William  Friz- 
zell  and  wife,  Abe  Miller  and  Wife,  William  Simpson  and 
wife,  John  Chester  and  wife,  Elijah  Reeves  and  wife,  Mrs. 
Catherine  Rushing,  Mrs.  A.  Nickols.  Mrs.  Jane  Rushing, 
who  is  now  eighty-four  years  old  is  the  only  living  charter 
member.  They  built  a  church  house  later  and  are  still 
carrying  on  their  work.  Mrs.  N.  L.  Chester  is  a  member 
of  this  church  at  present  and  G.  W.  Rushing  is  the  clerk. 
Some  of  their  pastors  have  been  Richard  Fulkerson,  William 
Gouge  and  Lemuel  Potter.  Rock  Springs  is  another  church. 
of  this  faith  located  near  Simpson. 

There  are  two  General  Baptist  churches  in  this  county. 
They  belong  to  the  Ohio  Association,  which  was  organized 
in  1854.  Bethal  is  the  name  of  one  church.  It  is  situated  in 
the  northern  part  of  the  county  and  was  organized  in  1864. 


120  A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


Friendship  church,  of  this  denomination,  was  organized  the 
same  year  and  is  located  three  miles  northwest  of  Goreville. 
No  names  of  ministers  or  members  can  be  obtained  except 
that  of  Isiah  Lowery,  a  prominent  farmer,  of  Tunnell  Hill 
Township,  who  kindly  gave  the  above  information. 

There  are  four  Christian  Churches,  sometimes  called 
the  Disciples  of  Christ  in  this  county  at  the  present  time. 
There  was  one  church  of  this  denomination  in  1850.  The 
following  data  is  from  N.  S.  Haynes'  History  of  this  church, 
Miss  Lilly  Parker  and  J.  F.  Hight.  Bethlehem  church  was 
organized  in  1847  by  Minister  Wooten.  It  is  thought  to 
be  the  oldest  church  of  the  county.  Their  first  meetings 
were  held  in  a  brush  arbor.  A  log  house  was  built  and 
later  a  frame  was  erected.  Norman  Mozley,  Sr.,  was  the 
leading  spirit  and  associated  with  him  were  other  faithful 
men  and  women,  the  Carltons,  Helms,  and  Hights.  There 
has  been  little  increase  in  this  church  in  the  last  twenty 
years.  Elder  J.  F.  Hight  went  into  the  ministry  from 
this  congregation.  Marshall  Starks,  Matthew  Willson  and 
Rev.  Heap  were  some  of  the  first  ministers. 

Berea  church  of  this  faith  is  located  about  five  miles 
southeast  from  Vienna,  organized  a  few  years  after  Bethle- 
hem by  Matthew  Wilson.  Its  history  is  very  similiar.  The 
families  of  Pickens,  Starks,  Gage,  and  Albritten  were  prom- 
inent in  the  work  at  Berea.  Beverly  Albritton  was  a  local 
preacher  who  came  from  the  south  and  settled  in  this 
neighborhood.  He  and  his  son,  George  served  the  church 
as  elders  almost  continuously  since  its  origin.  Wiley  F. 
and  Daniel  M.  Mathis  were  two  ministers  who  went  out 
from  this  church. 

New  Burnside  church,  another  of  the  Christian  denom- 
ination, was  organized  in  1875  and  a  house  of  worship 
built.  Some  of  the  first  members  were  James  Hester  and 
wife,  Frank  Graham  and  wife,  John  Clymer  and  wife,  Dave 
Shearer  and  wife,  and  Mrs.  Asher.  Some  of  the  first  min- 
isters were  Stanton  Fields,  R.  B.  Trimble,  Jesse  Higby  and 
Rev.  Curfees. 

There  was  a  church  of  this  denomination  at  or  near 
West  Vienna  as  early  as  1860,  called  Gum  Springs.  They 
had  built  a  log  house  and  an  evanglist  John  Lemon,  as 
well  as  Dr.  Bundy,  and  Matthew  Wilson  visited  them  and 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY  121 


held  meetings  about  the  year  1865.  Some  of  the  members 
at  that  time  were  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Dick  Venable,  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Henry  Smith,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Jackson  Anderson,  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Samuel  M.  Glassford,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  John  Racy 
and  Mrs.  Ann  Calhoun  Lemon  and  his  son  Josephus  came 
as  refugees  from  the  south.  They  were  the  leading  mem- 
bers of  the  Gum  Springs  church.  Many  of  the  other  mem- 
bers were  refugees  and  after  the  close  of  the  Civil  War 
many  of  them  returned  to  their  homes  and  the  church  was 
dormant  for  sometime.  The  remaining  members,  however, 
formed  a  nucleus  for  the  founding  of  a  church  at  Vienna. 
The  first  meetings  at  Vienna  were  held  in  the  C.  P.  Church, 
later  in  the  hall  in  the  Chapman  and  Hess  building.  Some 
of  the  charter  members  of  this  church  were  Felix  Boyt  and 
wife,  Benjamin  Bellemy  and  wife,  B.  Jones  and  wife,  Ber- 
ton  Sexton  and  wife,  Duke  Smith  and  wife,  beside  the  mem- 
bers from  Gum  Spring.  Two  of  the  early  ministers  were 
Rev.  Banteau  and  Duke  Smith.  Rev.  R.  R.  McCall,  who 
came  here  in  1860,  and  Rev.  I.  A.  J.  Parker  who  came  a 
little  later  were  helpful  in  building  up  the  church  at  Vienna. 
In  1871  the  present  brick  building  was  erected.  S.  M. 
Glassford  and  wife  were  most  liberal  givers,  also  Mrs. 
Mary  (Frances)  Mackey.  November,  1884,  I.  A.  J.  Parker 
was  ordained  by  R.  R.  Trimble  and  preached  for  this  con- 
gregation eight  years.  J.  T.  Alsup,  Willis  A.  and  B.  E. 
Parker  have  gone  out  from  this  church  as  preachers  of  the 
gospel. 

Belknap  Christian  church  was  organized  in  1895  by 
Elder  G.  Lay  Wolf.  Some  of  the  charter  members  were  W. 
H.  Gibbons,  A.  M.  Kean,  J.  B.  McDowell,  W.  C.  Wyatt  and 
A.  M.  Wilson.  They  have  had  as  ministers,  Elders  I.  A.  J. 
Parker,  Sheak,  Karker  and  Freeman.  They  worshiped  in 
a  rented  building  for  some  time.  Later  they  built  a  beauti- 
ful little  frame  church  home,  which  was  dedicated  by  Fred 
Jones,  Illinois  State  Secretary  for  Christian  Missionary 
Society. 

Grantsburg  Christian  church  was  organized  in  1902 
by  John  U.  Cowan,  with  the  help  of  W.  B.  Bivins. 

There  was  a  small  congregation  of  this  belief  in  Elvira 
in  1879.  When  minister  Shelton  moved  away  the  congre- 
gation scattered.  There  was  also  a  small  band  at  Union 
Hill  in  1900,  but  it  continued  only  a  short  time.     In  the 


122  A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


seventies  J.  W.  Bradley  of  Clay  County,  Stanton  Fields  and 
J.  W.  Radclilf  did  good  work  in  the  county  as  revivalists. 

In  1869  Clark  Braden  a  Christian  minister,  and  G.  W. 
Hughey  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  debated  at 
Vienna  on  Baptism,  the  work  of  the  Holy  Spirit  and  the 
Methodist  discipline.  If  any  kindlier  feeling  was  created  or 
any  Christians  made  from  this  discussion  it  has  not  been 
recorded. 

The  Catholic  church,  a  small  frame  building  was  dedi- 
cated at  Vienna  in  1896.  There  is  also  a  Catholic  church 
at  New  Burnside.  The  membership  of  these  churches  is 
very  limited  in  this  county.  For  a  short  time  there  was  a 
resident  priest  in  Vienna  who  also  held  services  at  New 
Burnisde,  but  at  present  the  priest  resides  at  Stone  Fort, 
coming  here  every  two  weeks.  He  also  holds  services  at 
New  Burnside. 

A  Congregational  Society  was  organized  at  Vienna  in 
1893  and  the  cornerstone  of  their  building  was  laid  the  same 
year,  and  it  was  dedicated  in  1899.  Some  of  the  charter 
members  of  this  church  were  Mr.  and  Mrs.  G.  H.  Bridges, 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  L.  A.  Williams,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Thomas  Slan- 
kard,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Robert  Thacker  and  family,  Mesdames 
Edith  Smith,  Delia  Head,  Matilda  Mahl,  Margaret  Ballow, 
and  Ann  Jones.  Some  of  the  ministers  serving  in  this 
church  were  Revs.  Mosslander,  Perdue,  J.  H.  Lippard.  C. 
L.  Westman,  Murry,  Knighten  Bloom  and  Evan  Wiggle.  The 
church  became  inactive  several  years  ago  and  the  building 
which  stood  on  the  corner  of  Second  and  Green  streets  was 
razed  in  1920. 

,  The  Pentacostal  church  was  organized  in  Vienna  in 
1908  by  Mrs.  Humphrey,  with  forty  members.  They  have 
a  frame  church  but  seldom  have  services.  Some  of  their 
first  members  were  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Henen  Russell,  Aldred 
Hooker,  Mrs.  Stewart  Sutliff  and  the  Furguson  families. 

There  is  a  church  of  this  denomination  at  Belknap. 
William  Sutliff  is  the  pastor,  with  about  twenty  members, 
some  of  whom  are  Mrs.  Mercher,  Mrs.  Payne,  Dick  Smith 
and  family,  and  Mrs.  Evers.  There  is  also  a  small  group 
of  this  faith  in  Goreville.  Rev.  Sutliff  estimates  the  whole 
number  of  Pentacostal  members  in  the  county  as  one  hun- 
dred. 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY  123 

There  were  at  one  time  a  few  United  Brethern 
churches  in  the  county.  Fairview,  Ballow,  and  Number 
9;  they  were  established  about  1903.  These  churches  seem 
to  have  gone  down,  and  there  is  not,  at  present,  a  pastor 
of  this  denomination  in  the  county. 

Southern  Methodist  churches  were  organized  at  one  or 
two  points  in  the  county  about  1912,  but  there  are  no  living 
churches  at  present  unless  there  is  one  at  Foreman. 

The  Church  of  Latter-Day  Saints 
The  church  in  Johnson  County  is  in  strict  harmony 
with  the  church  as  re-organized,  April  6,  1860,  by  Joseph 
Smith,  the  son  of  the  prophet.  After  the  death  of  Joseph 
Smith,  the  prophet,  at  Carthage,  Illinois,  a  band  of  saints 
went  to  Utah  under  the  leadership  of  Brigham  Young,  and 
here  in  the  desert  land  they  founded  the  Church  of  Jesus 
Christ  as  they  styled  it,  and  introduced  the  plurality  of 
wives  or  polygamy  in  this  country. 

The  re-organized  church  has  never  been  connected  in 
any  way  with  any  of  the  movements  or  practices  of  the 
Utah  church.  It  may  be  well  to  state  here  that  separate 
headquarters  for  each  church  are  maintained,  and  that 
neither  organization  is  responsible  to  the  other  for  any  pub- 
lications or  appointments  made.  The  re-organized  church 
has  its  headquarters  at  Independence,  Missouri. 

The  initial  movement  of  the  church  in  Johnson  County 
began  about  1861  and  1862,  when  William  H.  Kelley,  son 
of  Richard  Y.  Kelley,  came  to  Illinois  on  a  mission,  and 
while  here,  baptised  a  number  of  people.  Later  in  the  six- 
ties, Bejamin  H.  Ballowe  did  ministerial  work  in  this  coun- 
ty and  added  some  names  to  the  list  of  members  of  the 
church. 

But  the  beginning  of  the  work,  properly  speaking,  be- 
gan in  the  summer  of  1874,  when  Joseph  C.  Clapp  came 
into  the  county  and  established  objectives  at  Tunnel  Hill 
and  what  was  known  as  the  Webb  school  house. 

This  movement  was  followed  in  December  of  the  same 
year  by  Geo.  H.  Hilliard  and  Issac  A.  Morris,  both  of  Wayne 
County,  Illinois.  A  number  were  baptised  at  this  time. 
The  next  year,  in  August,  1875,  the  church  was  organized 
by  Geo.  H.  Hilliard  and  some  others  at  the  Webb  school 


124  A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


house  in  Tunnell  Hill  Township.  Leander  H.  Kelley  was 
chosen  presiding  elder  of  the  organization,  Elisha  Webb, 
presiding  priest,  and  Issac  M.  Smith,  teacher. 

A  movement  was  started  to  erect  a  church,  and  the 
building  was  completed  in  the  autumn  of  1879.  Some  of 
the  first  members  of  the  church  were:  Richard  Y.  Smith 
and  wife;  Leander  H.  Kelley  and  Rhoda  Kelley,  his  wife; 
Elisha  Webb  and  Nancy  C.  Webb,  his  wife;  Daniel  Webb 
Sr,.  and  Rebecca  Webb,  his  wife ;  Caroline  Burklow ;  Joseph 
Smith,  Sr.,  and  Samuel  H.  Simmons. 

There  is  only  one  congregation  of  this  church  in  the 
county.  It  has  a  membership,  local  and  scattered,  of  about 
two  hundred  persons.  Among  the  ministers  going  out  from 
this  church  are  Elders  Issac  M.  Smith,  associate  editor 
Zion's  Ensign,  Independence,  Missouri;  Elders  Thos.  N. 
and  William  R.  Smith,  Knobnoster,  Missouri,  Elder  Thos. 
C.  Kelley,  Independence,  Missouri;  Elder  Peter  G.  Mc- 
Mahan,  Tunnel  Hill,  Illinois;  Elder  Lloyd  C.  Moore,  Mt. 
Carmel,  Ilinois  and  E.  W.  Sutton,  Vienna,  Illinois. 

This  church  functions  in  the  different  departments  of 
church  work.  It  maintains  a  Sunday  School,  and  Zion's 
Religio-Literary  Society  for  the  benefit  of,  not  only  its  own 
members,  but  for  all  who  will  assist  in  these  activities. 
The  church  is  also  supported  by  a  ladies'  aid  whose  mem- 
bership is  representative  of  the  leading  women  of  the 
church  and  community. 

(Contributed  by  Rev.  E.  W.  Sutton.  ) 

In  1805  there  was  only  one  M.  E.  Church  Conference 
in  the  Mississippi  Valley.  It  was  called  the  Western  Con- 
ference. It  had  four  circuits,  Holstine,  Cumberland,  Ken- 
tucky and  Ohio.  This  county  was  in  Western  Conference 
territory,  but  whether  we  had  any  M.  E.  Church  here  at 
that  time  or  a  church  of  any  denomination  is  not  known. 
Joseph  Lillard  is  given  as  the  first  M.  E.  preacher  in  the 
state,  coming  to  New  Design,  in  Monroe  County,  in  1793, 
but  there  is  no  record  of  his  having  visited  this  section.  The 
Western  Conference  was  divided  into  the  Tennessee  and 
Ohio  Conferences  in  1816.  Johnson  County  became  a  part 
of  the  Tennessee  Conference.  We  remained  with  this 
division  until  1824.  We  were  then  placed  in  the  Illinois 
Conference  where  we  held  our  membership  until  1851,  when 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY  125 


Southern  Illinois  was  set  apart  and  we  naturally  fell  into 
their  territory  and  are  still  a  part  of  this  division. 

J.  M.  Peck,  an  Illinois  Historian  says  that  Josiah  Pat- 
erson,  an  M.  E.  minister,  preached  in  settlements  near  the 
Ohio  River  in  1814  and  1815.  There  were  four  circuits  in 
1815,  namely,  Illinois,  Okaw,  Massac  and  Wabash.  From 
the  history  of  the  Methodist  Conference,  we  find  that  Jesse 
Walker  was  presiding  elder  of  the  Illinois  Circuit  in  1806, 
and  John  Clyman  was  pastor  of  the  same  circuit  in  1807. 
Amos  Abrahams  was  pastor  of  this  circuit  in  1809  and 
Samuel  Parker  was  Presiding  Elder.  The  M.  E.  Notes  de- 
scribes the  Illinois  Circuits  as  follows,  "To  the  east  of  New 
Design,  which  was  in  Monroe  County,  at  various  points  on 
Big  Bay  and  Cache  River,  Illinois."  Jacob  Whiteside,  of 
Western  Conference  served  on  Cache  River  and  Big  Bay 
from  1815  to  1818.  In  1817,  W.  R.  Jones  served  with  Jacob 
Whiteside.  Thomas  Davis  was  assigned  to  Big  Bay  in  1815, 
and  Francis  Moon  was  pastor  of  Cache  River  Circuit  in 
1820.  Joseph  Paterson  in  1824,  Asa  D.  West  in  1825.— M. 
E.  Church  Notes. 

Peter  Cartwight  says  Mt.  Carmel,  Wabash,  Carmi,  Mt. 
Vernon  and  Cache  River  circuits  were  known  as  Wabash 
district  in  1826,  and  Charles  Holiday  was  the  presiding 
elder. 

The  first  M.  E.  Church  mentioned  in  history  that 
could  have  been  in  this  county  is  Massac  church,  which  was 
formed  in  1810  with  fifteen  members,  and  was  attached  to 
Kaskaskia  Circuit.  The  location  of  this  church  is  not 
known,  but  it  must  have  been  within  the  bounds  of  the  first 
Johnson  County.  Cache  Creek  Circuit  was  formed  in  1810, 
with  Thomas  Kirkham  given  as  pastor. —  (M.  E.  Church 
Notes.) 

From  the  census  of  1850  there  were  four  M.  E. 
Churches  in  this  county  but  their  names  and  locations  are 
not  given.  Tradition  points  strongly  to  West  Eden  as  one. 
The  founder  of  the  West  family  was  a  Methodist  minister, 
who  probably  thought  after  the  founding  of  a  home  the  next 
duty  he  owed  his  family  was  to  establish  a  church.  Heze- 
kiah  West's  house  was  the  home  of  the  church  until  it  was 
possible  to  build  a  place  of  worship.  They  first  erected  a 
large  log  house  and    called    the    church    Eden.      It    was 


126  A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


located  where  the  West  Eden  School  house  now  stands  and 
was  the  gathering  place  for  all  the  settlers  for  many  miles 
around.  This  church  and  neighborhood  was  so  vitally 
associated  with  the  West  family  that  it  was  finally  called 
West  Eden.  The  exact  date  of  organization  is  not  known, 
but  must  have  been  before  1813.  The  names  of  the  pastors 
will  be  found  in  the  conference  list.  The  first  members 
were  the  West,  Carter,  Axley,  Peterson,  Mercer  and  Martin 
families.  A  little  later  came  the  Deans,  Peelers,  Caspers 
and  others.  Many  of  the  descendants  of  these  families  are 
still  connected  with  this  church.  A  neat  frame  building  has 
long  since  replaced  the  log  one.  This  church  has  an  un- 
broken record  of  activity  for  more  than  a  century  and  is 
still  filling  the  purpose  for  which  it  was  organized. 

Mt.  Pisgah  is  another  old  church,  a  little  farther  west 
and  near  the  county  line  of  Union.  Rix  Carter,  a  son-in-law 
of  Hezekiah  West  raised  a  large  family  in  that  neighbor- 
hood and  was  one  of  its  founders.  Two  of  his  sons,  Revs. 
Moulton  and  William  Carter  were  M.  E.  ministers.  The 
Mulkey  Brown,  Joel  Dubois,  John  and  Linsfield  Shadrick 
families  and  Mrs.  Robert  Hood  were  some  of  the  members 
of  this  early  church.  It  was  organized  before  1860  and 
the  first  house  was  built  during  the  Civil  War.  A  second 
one  was  built  in  1892  and  they  are  now  erecting  a  third, 
(1923).  Exemplifying  the  interest  that  is  alive  in  this 
church;  some  of  the  later  members  are  John  and  Samuel 
Brown,  James  Enos,  W.  Y.  Davis,  Frank  Wilkinson,  their 
families  and  others. 

Cedar  Grove  was  also  an  M.  E.  Church  of  that  section, 
which  must  have  been  organized  before  1860.  There  can 
be  no  definite  data  secured  except  that  in  1900,  Mr.  J.  C. 
Carter  had  been  a  member  of  this  church  thirty-five  years. 
Some  of  the  leading  members  who  with  others  formed 
Cypress  church  that  year  were  W.  J.  Hartman,  J.  C.  Carter, 
J.  W.  Hunter,  T.  M.  Bean,  and  their  families.  Two  of  the 
pastors  of  Cedar  Grove  church  were  Dr.  0.  H.  Clark  and 
Rev.  Root.  Some  serving  Cypress  have  been  Revs.  C.  E. 
Connett,  Davidson,  S.  S.  Smith,  Bernieking,  and  Todd. 
This  is  one  of  the  live  churches  of  the  county. 

Reynoldsburg  church  was  organized  in  1833  at  the 
home  of  William  Harper  and  must  have  been  another  one 
of  the  M.    E.  churches  given  in  1850.     It  was  first  called 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY  127 


Cross  Roads  and  a  log  house  was  erected  the  year  of  its 
beginning,  and  in  1853  a  frame  church  was  built.  The 
builder  was  a  Mr.  Epperson,  who  was  an  adept  carpenter. 
The  frame  work  was  hewed  out  instead  of  sawed. 

The  Presbyterians  worshipped  with  the  Methodist  in 
this  building  for  some  time  with  Lewis  Simpson  as  pastor, 
after  his  death  the  Methodists  bought  out  the  Presbyterians. 
In  1891  the  present  building  was  erected  Lewis  Epperson, 
a  son  of  the  first  Mr.  Epperson  was  the  builder.  Hon.  L. 
0.  Whitnel,  who  was  raised  in  the  neighborhood  donated 
the  bell.  Some  of  the  first  members  of  this  church  were 
William  and  James  Harper,  T.  J.  Cook  and  their  wives, 
some  later  ones  were  Wesley  Reynolds,  F.  M.  McGee, 
Thomas  Reynolds  and  their  families  and  Mrs.  Mary  (Gray) 
Peterson  with  her  family,  Dr.  Josiah  Whitnel  lent  his 
influence.  This  church  is  not  far  from  the  century  mark 
and  still  doing  good  work.  It  was  at  one  time  the  head  of 
a  circuit,  has  been  on  the  Vienna  circuit  and  is  now  on  the 
Burnside  circuit. 

The  Vienna  class  was  formed  in  1842  under  the  leader- 
ship of  Dr.  Stewart,  who  was  a  local  preacher.  It  is  first 
given  on  the  conference  records  as  the  head  of  a  circuit  in 
1852.  Some  of  the  first  members  found  were  John  Bain,  A.J. 
Kuykendall  and  their  families.  The  old  church  records 
have  been  lost  and  only  names  found  in  the  Quarterly  meet- 
ings and  Conference  records  could  be  obtained.  Dr.  J.  N. 
Giay  and  wife  are  found  on  early  records,  Dr.  W.  A.  Looney 
and  Dr.  J.  H.  Norris  are  found  faithful  attendants  at  the 
business  meetings  and  among  the  financial  supporters.  John 
and  Winnie  Bain  were  members  of  this  church  from  its 
beginning  and  were  faithful  in  attendance  and  support 
throughout  their  lives.  A  memorial  window  was  placed  in 
the  church  after  their  death  as  a  most  appropriate 
tribute.  It  was  destroyed  in  the  recent  fire  (1924).  The 
first  pastor  of  this  church  was  R.  E.  Chase  with  C.  R.  Mc- 
lntire,  as  Presiding  Elder.  The  list  which  follows  is  as 
near  correct  as  could  be  obtained  and  those  up  to  the  time 
of  Reverend  J.  G.  Dee,  also  served  the  circuit.  Reverends 
R.  E.  Chase,  S.  W.  McGinnis,  P.  C.  Lopas,  J.  L. 
Thomas,  E.  Joyce,  J.  W.  Love,  V.  D.  Lingenfelter,  J.  G. 
Hardy,  L.  Walker,  H.  Chapman,  W.  Williams,  0.  Bruner, 
J.  P.  Rutherford,  John  Thacker,  U.  C.   Dickerson,  F.  M. 


128  A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


Van  Treece,  I.  E.  Driver,  J.  B.  F.  Hill,  H.  Delicate,  W.  B. 
Foster,  I.  D.  Peterson,  A.  L.  Downy,  J.  H.  Garret,  J.  W. 
Fields,  J.  H.  McGriff,  P.  L.  Hooker,  R.  P.  Hammons,  N. 
Crow,  W.  M.  Powis,  E.  Barnes,  J.  G.  Dee,  J.  W.  Jackson,  J. 
R.  Royce,  J.  H.  Ford,  A.  J.  Littell,  W.  D.  Margrave,  0.  H. 
Clark,  L.  S.  McKowan,  J.  G.  Harmon,  C.  S.  Tritt,  W.  W. 
Kemper,  J.  B.  Jones. 

Up  to  1886  the  M.  E.  church  had  worshipped  in  the 
old  Union  church.  A  building  committee  was  appointed 
that  year  composed  of  W.  A.  Looney,  M.  A.  Smith,  Mrs. 
May  Chapman,  F.  M.  Simpson,  and  Mrs.  Emma  Benson. 
In  1887  the  building  committee  was  changed  to  W.  A. 
Looney,  A.  K.  Vickers,  F.  M.  Simpson  and  P.  T.  Chapman. 
The  building  was  begun  under  the  pastorate  of  W.  M. 
Powis  and  finished  under  the  regime  of  J.  G.  Dee  who 
rendered  most  valuable  aid,  and  it  was  dedicated  by  Bishop 
Bowman  in  1889.  About  this  time  Mrs.  A.  K.  Vickers  and 
Mrs.  P.  T.  Chapman  circulated  a  petition  and  secured 
enough  subscribers  to  make  Vienna  a  station.  The  first 
Epworth  League  was  organized  during  the  pastorate  of 
J.  G.  Dee  in  1888,  with  Mrs.  Ruth  Chapman  First  Vice- 
President,  J.  H.  Carter,  Jr.,  Second  Vice-President,  Mrs. 
May  Jackson,  Secretary  and  Will  F.  Perkins,  Treasurer. 
The  Ladies'  Aid  Society  of  the  M.  E.  Church  was  organized 
at  the  home  of  Mrs.  Lide  Kuykendall  in  1885. 

There  have  been  a  great  many  revivals  in  different 
churches  in  the  town,  but  the  most  far  reaching  ones  were 
those  held  by  Reverend  Oscar  Lowery,  who  was  born  and 
raised  near  Cypress,  this  county.  He  was  assisted  by  a 
Mr.  Moody  and  wife,  who  lead  the  singing.  There  were 
three  hundred  conversions.  This  meeting  was  held  in  1909. 
Reverend  Roy  Mitchell  assisted  by  a  Mr.  Preston  and  wife 
held  the  second  one  in  1916,  with  one  hundred  seventy- 
seven  conversions. 

The  M.  E.  churches  were  placed  on  different  circuits 
from  time  to  time  and  they  were  not  always  all  in  this 
county.  The  first  circuit  (given  in  the  conference  records) 
was  Vienna  as  a  mission  circuit  in  1853,  at  the  first  South- 
ern Illinois  Conference  which  was  held  at  Belleville  that 
year.  The  following  appointments  were  given  on  Vienna 
circuit  about  ten  yeais  later  at  a  quarterly  meeting  held 
at  Cummins  schoolhouse,  March  14,  1863;  Vienna,  Harrells. 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY  129 


Cedar  Bluff,  Zion,  Cross  Roads,  Finley,  County  Line, 
Hooker,  Sutliff,  Mt.  Pleasant  and  Cave  Creek,  Union  Hill, 
Casey  Springs  and  Central  Schoolhouse,  although  classes 
were  not  formed  at  all  these  places.  Vienna  is  given  first 
and  recorded  as  giving  two  dollars  for  the  support  of  the 
Gospel  for  that  Quarter,  the  amount  was  turned  over  to 
the  pastor's  wife,  Mrs.  Williams. 

Cedar  Bluff  M.  E.  Class  was  first  held  at  the  residence 
of  J.  M.  Benson,  but  later  held  in  the  Cedar  Bluff  school 
house  in  Tunnel  Hill  Township,  which  was  located  just  be- 
yond the  present  home  of  Frank  Carson.  J.  M.  and  I.  M. 
Benson  and  C.  C.  Damron,  John  Albright,  Daniel  Rendle- 
man,  John  Carson  and  their  families  early  Methodists  of 
that  section,  were  the  founders.  A  little  later  A.  E.  Francis, 
Lee  Chapman,  and  their  families,  together  with  some  mem- 
bers of  W.  H.  Whittenburg's  and  D.  C.  Chapman's  families 
had  joined  this  class.  There  was  a  church  class  at  the 
Miller  school  house  a  few  miles  south  of  Cedar  Bluff. 
Wesley  Miller  was  one  of  the  main  members.  The  two 
classes  combined  and  built  a  church  in  1872  naming  it 
Wesley  Chapel.  In  1886  there  were  nine  Bensons  belonging 
to  this  church  out  of  a  membership  of  twenty-one.  This 
was  for  many  years  a  flourishing  church,  but  the  members 
have  died  or  moved  away,  until  A.  G.  Benson's  family  is  all 
that  is  left  of  this  once  influential  organization,  and  the 
pretty  little  white  chapel,  now  deserted  sits  quietly  beside 
the  road,  among  the  beautiful  forest  trees  and  silently  waits 
the  dawning  of  a  new  day  for  country  churches,  or  final  de- 
cay. This  building  was  sold  to  F.  C.  Thomas  to  be  em- 
bodied in  a  dwelling,  1924. 

Finley  M.  E.  Church  was  organized  about  1855. 
William  Finley  and  J.  S.  Whittenberg  were  the  moving 
spirits  in  this  church  for  many  years.  A  log  church  was 
built  in  1866,  about  two  miles  west  of  Parker,  in  Burniside 
Township  and  called  Finley  Chapel.  This  was  quite  a  large 
congregation  for  many  years..  Elihu  Vaughn  and  wife 
were  also  among  the  first  members.  Rev.  L.  L.  Vaughn,  a 
local  preacher  of  that  community  was  ordained  from  this 
church,  and  still  holds  his  membership  there.  In  1900  under 
the  leadership  of  Rev.  W.  G.  Hale,  they  raised  the  money 
to  build  a  small  chapel,  which  is  located  about  one  mile 
west  of  Parker.    The  church  has  lost  many  of  its  members 


130  A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


-by  death  and  removals  and  consequently  much  of  its  old 
time  vigor.  It  is  still  an  appointment  on  the  Burnside 
circuit  (1924). 

Central  M.  E.  Church  is  situated  in  the  southeast  part 
of  the  county.  A  class  was  formed  about  1850,  perhaps 
earlier.  Jason  B.  Smith  was  one  of  the  founders  and  church 
meetings  were  held  at  his  house  until  the  free  school  law 
was  passed,  when  it  was  continued  to  be  held  in  the  Central 
school  hoiise,  till  1870,  when  a  building  was  erected.  It  was 
dedicated  by  the  Reverend  Peter  Cartwright.  Zackariah 
W.  Calhoun  was  associated  with  J.  B.  Smith  in  this  early 
church  work  and  was  an  earnest  and  faithful  member,  un- 
til his  death,  about  1865.  Some  other  members  were,  C.  A. 
Bain,  J.  J.  Pierce,  William  Helm,  Charles  T.  and  W.  L. 
Reed,  William  T.  Cagle,  J.  A.  Smith  and  W.  H.  Horner  with 
members  of  their  families.    This  is  still  a  live  church. 

Benton  M.  E.  Church  was  organized  about  the  same 
time  as  the  Central  class  and  located  in  the  same  section  of 
the  county.  The  Marberrys,  Fishers,  Cummins,  Culvers, 
Moses  Comer,  W.  M.  Helm  and  their  families  were  some  of 
the  members  forming  this  church,  and  many  of  the  descen- 
dants of  these  families  are  carrying  on  the  work  at  present. 
This  church  is  known  as  "the  home  of  the  Cummins."  A 
home  coming  was  held  in  this  church  in  1917,  under  the 
management  of  Reverend  C.  A.  Campbell,  which  lasted  a 
week.  It  was  a  unique  and  pleasant  gathering.  This 
church  has  sent  out  seventeen  ministers  in  thirty  years  and 
fourteen  are  still  in  the  work.  Johnson  County  has  sent 
out  more  ministers  than  any  other  county  of  its  population, 
in  the  United  States.  Mrs.  A.  E.  Cummins,  daughter  of 
Jason  B.  Smith,  was  a  member  of  this  church  and  has  five 
sons  who  are  M.  E.  ministers.  In  1886  there  were  thirty 
Cummins  and  nine  Marberrys  belonging  to  this  church. 

Mt.  Pleasant  M.  E.  Church  is  situated  about  five  miles 
northeast  of  Vienna  at  the  Taylor  Cemetery.  It  was 
organized  sometime  before  1863.  James  Peterson  was  one 
of  the  first  members.  The  Peterson,  Taylor  and  Simpson 
families  formed  the  larger  quota  of  the  membership  there. 
It  is  a  live  church  at  the  present  and  belongs  to  the  Burn- 
side  circuit. 

Casey  Springs  is  another  M.  E.  Church  bordering  on 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY  131 


three  quarters  of  a  century  in  age.  It  is  situated  four  and 
a  half  miles  east  of  Vienna.  Some  of  the  first  official  mem- 
bers were  M.  B.  Bain,  J.  M.  Williams,  P.  W.  McFatridge, 
William  Thompson,  William  Murrie,  and  Louis  Siebman. 
Regular  services  are  not  held  here  at  the  present  time  but 
it  belongs  to  the  Burnside  circuit. 

Chism  was  an  appointment  on  record  in  1865.  The 
meetings  were  held  in  the  Chism  school  house  which  took 
its  name  from  William  Chism,  an  old  resident  of  the 
northern  part  of  Tunnell  Hill  Township.  Some  of  his  de- 
scendants still  reside  there.  This  church  has  been  aban- 
doned for  more  than  fifty  years. 

Grantsburg  is  another  appointment  given  about  the 
same  time  as  Chism.  The  services  were  held  in  the  school 
house  of  that  locality,  and  J.  L.  Thomas,  A.  Franklin,  J. 
and  W.  L.  Young  were  given  as  official  members.  There 
is  no  record  of  a  church  building  having  been  erected  and 
this  class  has  long  since  ceased  to  be. 

Union  Hill  is  given  as  an  appointment  on  the  Quarterly 
conference  records,  1865,  but  no  knowledge  of  its  location 
or  members  can  be  found.  Stewart  school  house  appoint- 
ment three  miles  north  of  Vienna  was  taken  in  1868,  also 
Whiteside  school  house  appointment,  the  same  year.  Mor- 
gan school  house  was  an  appointment  in  1869.  No  further 
knowledge  of  these  classes  could  be  obtained. 

Some  of  the  presiding  elders  for  the  early  period  of 
the  M.  E.  Church  were  Reverends  J.  H.  Hill,  J.  W.  Lowe, 
G.  W.  Hughy,  A.  B.  Morrison,  W.  J.  Grant,  C.  D.  Lingen- 
felter,  James  Harris,  J.  L.  Wallar,  J.  W.  Van  Cleve  and  J. 
B.  Ravenscroft. 

Cross  Roads  does  not  appear  later  than  1865,  as  its 
name  was  changed  to  Reynoldsburg.  Zion  was  just  across 
the  county  line  in  Union  and  near  Moscow.  County  Line 
was  in  the  northen  part  of  the  county  near  the  present  site 
of  Creal  Springs.  Richie  Oliver  was  a  local  preacher  be- 
longing there.  His  family,  John  Oliver  and  family,  and  the 
McMahans  were  among  the  members  of  this  church,  which 
has  been  dormant  many  years.  Hooker's  appointment  was 
located  on  what  is  known  as  Chestnut  Hill  Farm.  It 
was  discontinued  in  1867.  Sutliff,  an  M.  E.  appointment 
was  located  at  or  near  the  residence  of  H.  B.  Stuliff.     He 


132  A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


was  a  faithful  and  active  member  of  this  denomination 
throughout  his  life.  Cave  Creek  M.  E.  Church  must  have 
been  a  short  distance  east  of  Vienna.  All  the  definite  infor- 
mation in  regard  to  it  is  that  Christopher  T.  Ellis  and 
Issac  Perry  were  two  active  members  about  1863  to  1865. 
There  has  been  no  Methodist  organization  there  for  years 
and  it  was  doubtless  absorbed  by  the  Cave  Creek  Baptist 
church,  which  is  now  an  active  society  in  that  section. 

Sugar  Grove  M.  E.  Church  was  somewhere  in  Elvira 
Township,  and  R.  W.  Brown  and  J.  C.  Bottom  were  the 
moving  spirits  in  its  beginning.  This  church  asked  per- 
mission to  sell  their  building  in  1871.  This  appointment 
was  possibly  transferred  from  Saratoga  circuit  in  Union 
County.  A  new  church  house  was  erected  a  little  south  of 
the  present  site  of  Buncombe.  R.  W.  and  Reuben  Brown, 
Oliver  Ragsdale,  Garner  Pearce,  John  Nobles,  J.  B.  Gilles- 
pie, J.  W.  Hacker,  and  George  Boomer  and  their  families, 
with  possibly  some  others,  constituted  the  membership  of 
this  church.  It  was  called  Salem,  and  did  service  for  this 
congregation  until  the  Chicago  and  Eastern  Illinois.  Rail- 
road was  built  and  the  town  of  Buncombe  began  to  grow. 
It  was  then  moved  to  that  village  and  became  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church  of  Buncombe.  J.  J.  Robertson  was  a 
strong  supporter  and  a  faithful  member  of  this  church 
during  his  life.  Some  of  the  present  members  are  Mrs.  J.  J. 
Robertson,  C.  C.  and  C.  J.  Walker,  Douglas  Rose,  Mrs. 
Martha  McCall,  their  families  and  Miss  Lou  Smith,  and 
others  just  as  faithful  and  earnest,  whose  names  were  not 
obtained.    Buncombe  belongs  on  the  Cypress  Circuit. 

Bloomfield  M.  E.  Church  was  organized  1874,  and  held 
in  the  school  house.  Dr.  William  Thompson  was  the 
founder.  J.  Williams  and  wife,  James  and  Lucinda  Powell 
are  among  the  first  members.  The  present  church  house 
was  built  about  1882.  The  best  list  of  members  to  be  ob- 
tained since  1886,  are  Casper  Goddard,  Nathan  Westbrooks, 
F.  S.  Thompson,  Samuel  Williams,  Adeline  Bridges,  Ma- 
linda  Bain,  Martha  J.  Waters,  Flora  Goddard,  Alice  Dunn, 
James  and  Betty  A.  Hood,  A.  S.  and  M.  C.  Dill,  S.  T.  and 
F.  Williams,  John  Crowder,  Lida  and  Ella  Davis,  Charles 
and  Martha  Thacker,  W.  H.  and  Nancy  Jobe,  Susan  Melton, 
Still  later  members  are  Mrs.  George  Mathis,  Gussie  and 
Mabel  Mathis,  Clarice  (Pfleuger)  Dunn,  Viva  Corbett, 
Newton  Davis,  Dr.  R.  A.  and  Mrs.  Maude  Hale,  Alonzo 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY  133 

and  Sadie  Mathis.    There  is  no  pastor  at  this  church  at  the 
present,  although  there  is  a  neat  little  parsonage. 

Sanburn  M.  E.  Church  was  organized  about  1870.  E. 
M.  Miller  and  family  were  among  the  first  members,  also 
W.  H.  Nipper  and  wife  and  W.  E.  Galeener  and  wife  and 
Abraham  Cover's  family.  Tunnel  Hill  church  was  organ- 
ized about  1878,  taking  in  the  Sanburn  organization.  Some 
of  the  present  members  are  Mr.  and  Mrs.  T.  H.  Taylor, 
Mrs.  Ada  Fern,  Mrs.  Nora  Gilliam,  Mrs.  Kate  Cruse,  Mrs. 
Niecy  Cover  and  family  and  Misses  Maybelle  and  Eva 
Verble. 

Gorville  M.  E.  Church  was  organized  about  1900  by 
Reverend  McCammon,  and  the  church  house  was  built  with 
only  five  members,  four  of  whom  were  ladies.  Mesdames 
Lily  McCormick,  Mattie  Gore,  Jones  and  Bradley  were 
charter  members.  Some  of  the  present  members  are  Mrs. 
Syble  Williams,  H.  M.  and  Add  Foster's  families.  Miss 
Gertrude  Williams,  Charles  A.  Walker  and  family,  Mrs. 
William  Hubbard,  Mrs.  Nola  Maze,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  J.  L. 
Wiggins  and  Mrs.  Essie  Jobe  and  others  making  a  member- 
ship of  about  fifty.  Reverends  Connett,  Hammons,  More- 
head,  and  Bernieking  are  some  of  the  ministers  serving  this 
charge  in  recent  years. 

Burnside  M.  E.  Church — Reverend  Charles  Botarf 
came  to  Burnside,  in  1872,  and  held  a  revival  meeting. 
An  M.  E.  class  was  formed  of  twelve  person  as 
follows:  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Thomas  Cook,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Jasper 
Cross,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Charles  Bradford,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  J.  C. 
Caldwell,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  J.  H.  Ballance,  Mrs.  Alvira  and 
Miss  Anna  Whiteaker.  Most  of  these  members  belonged  to 
a  church  north  of  New  Burnside,  known  as  Walnut  Hill. 
All  of  these  charter  members  are  dead  except  T.  J.  Cook 
who  is  in  his  ninetieth  year.  They  later  built  a  church 
house  which  is  still  in  use.  Lewis  Epperson  and  Samuel 
McNeil  were  the  builders.  John  Dupont,  a  business  man 
of  Burnside  donated  as  much  as  any  other  one  person  for 
its  construction.  Charles  Bradford,  T.  J.  Cook,  J.  H. 
Ballance,  the  three  Whiteaker  brothers  and  many  others 
gave  liberally.  The  pastors  have  been  Rev.  Charles  Botarf, 
Charles  Young,  J.  R.  Reed,  E.  Root,  A.  Wright,  Leech,  J. 
S.  Whittenberg,  W.  P.  Hammons,  A.  B.  and  M.  B.  Holloway, 
W.  J.  Peterson,  C.  E.  Parker,  H.  Hutchcraft,  W.  J.  Hopper, 


134  A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


C.  T.  Douthill,  C.  E.  Sale,  L.  C.  Wilkins,  J.  B.  Cummins,  T. 
Cates,  C.  B.  and  J.  B.  Whiteside,  J.  H.  McGriff,  J.  E.  Jones, 
E  .B.  Timmons,  W.  G.  Hale,  A.  C.  Margrave,  J.  L.  Rentfro, 
0.  E.  Connett,  W.  A.  Sharp,  J.  N.  Presley,  W.  C.  Bruce,  T. 
C.  Stokes,  J.  L.  Miller,  W.  E.  Shaffer,  C.  J.  Strubeing,  I.  G. 
Flick  and  G.  B.  Ramsey.  This  church  has  had  much  to  do 
with  the  moral  and  spiritual  life  of  the  town. 

(Information  given  by  H.  C.  Laybon.) 

The  Belknap  M.  E.  Church  was  organized  about  1875, 
most  of  its  members  coming  from  West  Eden  church.  They 
were  Mr.  and  Mrs.  R.  A.  Martin,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  George  Ax- 
ley,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  John  Shadrick,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Joseph  Kuy- 
kendall.  After  the  founding  of  the  church  a  new  circuit 
was  formed  including  Belknap,  also  West  Eden,  Cedar 
Grove,  Mt.  Pisgah,  on  the  west  side  of  Cache  and  Tucker's 
Chapel  and  Salem  in  Massac  County.  Reverend  Bowers 
was  appointed  on  this  circuit  with  headquarters  at  Belknap, 
which  was  also  the  name  of  the  circuit.  For  two  years 
church  services  were  held  in  a  large  cooper  shop  belonging 
to  George  Axley.  Seats  were  made  of  rough  lumber,  a 
large  box  heating  stove  occupied  the  center  of  the  room, 
and  smoky  coal  oil  lamps  hung  from  brackets  on  the  wall. 
The  congregation  usually  filled  the  room,  especially  at  the 
evening  service.  Many  men  from  the  logging  camps  and 
saw  mills,  (for  this  was  a  wooded  section)  attended  the 
meetings,  and  all  seemed  to  appreciate  these  services. 
Later  W.  L.  Williams  moved  to  Belknap  and  built  a  large 
flour  mill.  As  soon  as  it  was  enclosed  religious  services 
were  held  in  the  second  story  of  this  building  until  the 
machinery  was  installed.  The  following  year  a  new  school 
house  was  built  in  Belknap  and  the  church  proceeded  to 
occupy  it  for  services.  In  the  meantime  a  parsonage  had 
been  purchased  and  the  membership  had  grown  until  they 
were  able  to  erect  a  church  house,  which  they  did  in  1883 
under  the  pastorate  of  Reverend  William  Hammond.  This 
is  a  neat  and  well  arranged  frame  church,  lighted  from 
the  private  Delco  plant  of  Mrs.  0.  P.  Martin  and  at  her 
expense.  She  and  the  late  Dr.  Martin  have  been  among  the 
most  interested  members  of  this  church  for  many  years. 
Belknap  and  Karnak  are  served  by  the  same  pastor. 

This  youngest  organization  of  the  M.  E.  faith  is  the 
West  Vienna  church,  which  was    formed,    1910    or    1912. 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY  135 

Two  of  the  charter  members  were  William  Martin,  Hazel 
(Brown)  Edmonson.  They  have  a  neat  frame  church 
which  was  dedicated  by  Dr.  John  Harmon.  Some  of  the 
present  members  are  Samuel  Horsely  and  family,  Mrs. 
Willis  Ragsdale,  Mrs.  Lowery,  Mrs.  Avis  Brown,  Jacob  Mc- 
Coy and  other  faithful  ones  that  go  to  make  up  a  fine  work- 
ing church.  They  belong  to  Cypress  circuit  and  maintain 
regular  services. 

There  was  a  church  house  known  as  Old  Concord  Meet- 
ing house,  situated  on  the  west  side  of  the  county,  near 
the  line  of  Union,  as  early  as  1814,  and  possibly  earlier. 
The  petition  for  a  road  designates  the  locality  of  the  house, 
but  nothing  is  known  as  to  what  denomination  worshipped 
there.  It  is  probable  it  was  Methodist  as  Hezekiah  West 
lived  on  that  side  of  the  county  and  was  a  pioneer  minister 
of  that  faith.  There  is  a  cemetery  called  Concord  about 
where  the  location  of  this  meeting  house  was  described, 
but  whether  it  is  the  same  place  and  took  its  name  from 
the  old  church  is  not  positively  known.  "Aunt"  Nancy  Mad- 
den, as  she  was  known  during  her  later  years,  was  a  native 
of  Union  County,  born  in  1818.  She  married  Joshua  Peter- 
son and  moved  to  Cypress  at  the  age  of  fifteen  years.  She 
said  the  first  church  she  ever  attended  was  at  Concord  at 
or  near  Concord  Cemetery.  This  was  in  1833  and  before 
Mt.  Pisgah  was  built  (from  her  daughter.) 

H.  C.  Laybourn  published  in  1923  some  information 
regarding  the  Sunday  Schools  of  the  county.  He  thinks 
the  Reynoldsburg  Sunday  School  dates  back  eighty-five 
years.  There  are  several  Sunday  Schools  more  than  fifty 
years  old.  Cedar  Creek  and  Friendship,  Baptist;  Gillead 
and  Concord,  Presbyterians;  Benton,  Central,  Casey 
Springs,  West  Eden  and  Vienna,  Methodist.  There  are  fifty 
three  schools  in  the  county  at  the  present  time.  The  de- 
nominations are  divided  about  as  follows:  Methodist,  24; 
Baptist,  22;  Presbyterian,  5;  Christian,  5;  Pentacostal,  2; 
Latter  Day  Saints,  1 ;  Catholic,  2 ;  colored  Baptist,  1 ;  total 
162.  Johnson  County  had  a  Sunday  School  organization  as 
early  as  1869.  There  were  twelve  living  Sunday  Schools 
in  the  county  that  year,  with  an  average  attendance  of  six 
hundred.  There  were  six  Methodist  Sunday  Schools  in  the 
county  in  1868.  The  officers  of  the  County  Sunday  School 
Association  for  1881,  were  president,  G.  B.  Bomer;  Bun- 


136  A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


combe;  secretary,  Louisa  Copeland,  Vienna;  treasurer,  P. 
T.  Chapman,  Vienna.  The  township  presidents  were 
Vienna,  M.  A.  Smith,  Grantsburg,  W.  L.  Smith;  Cache,  0. 
P.  Hodges,  Elvira,  G.  B.  Gillespie ;  Goreville,  B.  G.  Mangum ; 
Burnside,  F.  M.  McGee;  Simpson,  J.  H.  Morphis;  Tunnel 
Hill,  J.  M.  Benson;  Bloomfield,  W.  A.  Looney. 

METHODIST  MINISTERS 

Some  Methodist  Episcopal  Ministers  serving  that  de- 
nomination in  this  county  were :  Peter  Cartwright  who  was 
a  well  known  character  visited  Southern  Illinois  on  at  least 
two  occasions ;  one  writer  says  of  him,  "there  is  no  better 
type  of  pioneer  preacher."  He  christened  Nancy  Spence 
(Madden)  who  was  born  in  1818.  He  again  visited  here  in 
1870  and  was  a  guest  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  John  Bain  of  Vienna. 
He  dedicated  the  New  Columbia  church,  and  also  Central 
church  of  this  county. 

T.  C.  Lopaz  was  an  itinerant  preacher  in  this  section 
in  1830,  continuing  his  work  for  the  Master  for  more  than 
forty  years.  He  was  an  eccentric  character,  was  very  de- 
vout and  did  much  valuable  service  in  building  up  Metho- 
dism. He  never  married  and  had  no  home,  but  carried  his 
wordly  possessions  in  his  saddle  bags,  also  umbrella 
strapped  behind  his  saddle.  He  always  rode  a  good  horse 
and  saw  that  it  was  well  treated. 

William  Standard  and  John  Rentfro  were  two  early 
local  preachers.  Moulton  Carter,  J.  S.  Whittenberg,  James 
Harper,  J.  G.  Hardy,  D.  Williams,  J.  L.  Gillespie,  James 
Scoot,  R.  Oliver,  William  Finley,  Micajah  Rose,  James 
Burk,  David  Stewart,  William  Thompson  and  J.  L.  Thomas 
were  ministers  here  before  1865.  M.  W.  Russell,  Richard 
Thatcher,  Fred  L.  Thompson,  C.  T.  Ellis,  A.  Jones,  Ambrose 
Seay,  H.  S.  Ausbrooks,  Ed  Brown  and  Joseph  Edmonson  in 
1870.  John  W.  Wright  of  Vienna  and  Issac  D.  Peterson  of 
West  Eden  were  licensed  to  preach  in  1870. 

J.  K.  Rose  and  Robert  Smith  were  ministers  of  a  later 
period. 

The  following  were  prominent  laymen  in  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church  between  1860-70;  J.  N.  Benson  and 
Charles  Damron  were  among  the  early  Methodist  of  the 
county  and  both  were  exhorters.    They  lived  their  religion 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY  137 


and  no  neighbor  ever  wanted  for  attention  when  sick  or  in 
need  if  they  knew  it.  If  a  man  was  sick  and  unable  to 
harvest  his  crop,  with  the  help  of  the  neighbors  they  did  it 
for  him.  Others  were  A.  Franklin,  Elijah  Hood,  G.  H.  Har- 
wood,  J.  Oliver,  William  Harper,  William  Hoker,  William 
Helm,  Wesley  White,  Chas.  N.  Gutley,  M.  Bain,  P.  W.  Mc- 
Fatridge  and  William  Murray  were  appointed  as  a  building 
committee  for  Cosey  Springs,  1870.  Jessie  Hunter,  Daniel 
Morris,  Thos.  J.  Cook,  C.  W.  McCoy,  H.  C.  Frazier,  Lewis 
Siebman,  W.  L.  and  D.  T.  Keid,  C.  W.  Miller,  H.  B.  Sutliff, 
Dr.  N.  M.  Gray  were  prominent  laymen.  In  1866,  a  com- 
mittee was  appointed  to  look  after  a  site  for  a  church  in 
Vienna,  the  committee  was  Dr.  W.  A.  Lonney,  Dr.  D.  T. 
Whitnel  and  Samuel  Jackson,  N.  Jones,  L.  W.  Marberry, 
J.  J.  Pearce,  B.  L.  Phelps,  William  and  B.  L.  Reid,  William 
Chisom,  W.  0.  Stevenson,  Frances  Elkins,  W.  L.  Young, 
J.  M.  Williams,  B.  S.  Rude,  John  Caldwell,  S.  A.  Cummins, 
O.  L.  Ridenhower,  James  M.  Holt,  Issac  Perry,  W.  H.  Cul- 
ver, F  A.  Fisher,  J.  B.  Smith,  W.  T.  Cagle,  J.  D.  Helm,  C. 
T.  Reid,  H.  Mercer,  Linsfield  Shadrick,  F.  M.  McGee,  J.  P. 
West,  W.  K.  Harvel,  P.  W.  Axley,  W.  D.  Deans,  Joel 
DuBois,  A.  W.  Carter,  G.  B.  Hood,  0.  G.  Peterson,  James 
McNealy,  T.  Chapman,  W.  E.  Galeener,  James  A.  Smith, 
Pleasant  and  Green  Thacker,  J.  C.  Green,  James  Daniels, 
J.  B.  Kuykendall,  James  Hacker,  A.  J.  Kuykendall,  James 
Slack,  Wiliam  and  T.  G.  Peterson,  H.  R.  Ragsdale,  A.  E. 
Francis,  D.  H.  Rendleman,  J.  M.  Ridenhower,  M.  A.  Smith, 
J.  R.  Reaf,  Hiram  Chapman,  I.  N.  Benson  and  many  others 
did  good  church  work  in  this  county. 

TRAGEDY 

This  county  has  had  its  share  of  crime  and  much  to 
our  shame  one  man  executed  by  the  law.  Harrihon  Burk- 
low, a  man  belonging  to  an  old  respected  family,  while 
under  the  influence  of  liquor,  shot  and  killed  a  man  by  the 
name  of  Wagner.  Wagner  tried  to  persuade  him  not  to 
kill  him,  as  Burklow  had  gone  with  that  intent,  to  where 
Wagner  was  working,  but  crazed  with  liquor  he  would  not 
listen  to  the  pleadings  and  shot  him  outright.  Burklow 
had  served  in  the  Civil  War,  and  had  many  friends  and 
relatives  in  the  community,  who  would  have  assisted  him, 
but  the  case  was  so  aggravated,  the  death  penalty  was  in- 
voked, and  he  was  hanged  in  the  old  jail  yard  just  a  little 


138  A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


above  where  the  present  jail  now  stands ;  in  spite  of  the  fact, 
that  the  hanging  was  private,  as  the  gallows  had  been  built 
in  a  large  inclosure  people  filled  the  town  to  its  limits.  J. 
H.  Carter  was  the  sheriff  and  W.  R.  Wiley  was  the  deputy 
who  carried  out  the  sentence  of  the  law  about  1877.  An- 
other crime  occurring  here  before  the  Civil  War,  which 
was  as  useless  as  heinous,  was  the  whipping  of  a  negro  to 
death  on  the  streets  of  Vienna.  Dr.  Gerry  kept  a  hotel  on 
Third  and  East  Main  streets,  where  Issac  Hook  now  lives. 
A  traveler  on  horseback  came  to  the  hotel  to  spend  the 
night.  Some  time  while  there  he  had  three  hundred  dol- 
lars taken  from  his  saddle  bags.  A  colored  boy  who  did  the 
chores  around  the  hotel,  was  accused  of  the  theft.  A  com- 
pany of  citizens  took  him  out,  drove  him  from  place  to 
place,  beating  him  with  switches,  hanging  him  up  by  the 
thumbs  at  intervals  to  make  him  tell  where  the  money  was. 
Although  he  would  tell  them  the  money  was  in  different 
places  to  get  a  respite  from  the  punishment,  he  stoutly 
denied  it  in  the  beginning.  This  continued  until  the  negro 
finally  dropped  dead  on  the  street,  just  south  of  where  the 
library  now  stands.  It  is  said  the  wife  of  Doctor  Gerry 
later  confessed  to  taking  the  money,  establishing  the  inno- 
cence of  the  negro. 

Franklin  J.  Chapman,  son  of  Samuel  the  pioneer,  was 
shot  and  killed  at  Old  Foreman,  while  he  was  asleep  in  his 
room.  The  perpetrator  of  this  deed  or  the  reason  for  it 
was  never  known. 

James  Arnett,  who  lived  west  of  Vienna,  about  four 
miles,  near  Cache  River  was  tried  three  times  in  our  courts 
for  murder,  but  never  convicted.  He  was  shot  from  ambush 
about  a  mile  west  of  Vienna,  on  his  way  home  from  the 
town  by  Burbe  Stanley,  a  neighbor,  who  was  convicted  of 
insanity  and  committed  to  the  Southern  Illinois  Hospital  at 
Anna  for  a  short  time.  William  Arnett,  a  brother  of  James, 
also  living  on  the  west  side  of  the  county,  while  hauling  a 
load  of  wheat  to  market  was  shot  from  ambush  on  the  road 
near  the  present  home  of  Roy  Shelter.  This  murder 
occurred  about  1876  and  was  committed  by  Powell  Short, 
who  was  never  apprehended. 

Another  crime  of  the  same  nature  was  the  killing  of 
John  Murrie  near  his  home,  now  the  home  of  John  Farris, 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY  139 


about  four  miles  east  of  Vienna,  on  the  Metropolis  Road. 
This  murder  was  supposed  to  have  been  done  by  a  man 
named  Holt,  but  no  certainty  is  attached  to  this  and  no 
arrest  was  ever  made. 

The  killing  of  Young  Elkins  was  a  much  talked  of 
incident,  and  occurred  sometime  in  the  fifties  in  Vienna. 
There  was  a  "clock-tinker,"  as  they  called  them  in  those 
days,  who  came  here  with  his  wife  from  Jonesboro.  His 
name  was  Merriman.  John  Bridge's  young  boys  had  been 
in  the  habit  of  going  to  his  house  and  throwing  rocks 
through  the  windows.  One  day  he  caught  one  of  the  boys 
and  gave  him  a  whipping.  Young  Elkins,  was  an  uncle  of 
these  boys,  and  it  seems,  prided  himself  on  his  physical 
prowess,  being  full  of  liquor,  went  down  in  company  with 
Ross  Sanders,  with  rocks  for  weapons  to  give  the  old  man 
a  "licking,"  as  he  called  it.  Merriman  ordered  Elkins  not 
to  come  in,  but  Elkins  paid  no  attention  to  the  old  man's 
order.  He  shot  Elkins  with  a  gun  which  he  had  made 
some  time  before  by  cutting  off  a  rifle.  The  old  man  had 
used  this  improvised  shot  gun  in  the  peaceful  occupation 
of  killing  birds.  It  is  supposed  that  he  had  expected  trouble 
after  he  whipped  the  boy,  and  had  loaded  the  gun  with 
buck  shot  to  defend  himself.  The  sheriff  put  the  old  man 
in  jail  to  keep  Elkin's  friends  from  mobbing  him,  and  after- 
wards turned  him  out  and  ordered  him  to  leave  the  com- 
munity, which  he  did. 

John  Maupin  was  killed  near  the  Johnson  Cemetery, 
three  miles  east  of  Vienna,  about  twenty-five  years  ago. 
His  body  was  carried  to  the  home  of  Charles  Farris  and 
left  in  front  of  his  gate.  Marcus  Burnett,  a  brother-in-law 
of  Maupin,  was  convicted  of  the  crime.  The  cause  was 
some  family  feud. 

A.  Franklin  was  a  captain  in  the  Civil  War,  serving 
from  this  county.  He  was  a  farmer  and  lived  near  Grants- 
burg.  Some  two  or  three  years  after  the  war,  two  strangers 
came  along  by  Captain  Franklin's  about  the  noon  hour,  and 
wanted  the  Captain  to  trade  horses  with  them.  Franklin 
discussed  the  matter  with  them,  but  would  not  trade.  The 
two  men  went  on  their  way,  as  the  Franklins  thought,  but 
shortly  after  the  meal  they  found  the  stranger's  horse  in 
the  barnyard  and  the  horse  belonging  to  Franklin  gone. 
He  immediately  set  out  to  find  the  man  and  horse,  over- 


140  A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


taking  them  a  short  distance  beyond  his  home,  and  on  de- 
manding his  horse  the  stranger  shot  and  killed  him.  The 
community  was  soon  aroused  and  went  in  search  of  the 
murderer,  surrounded  and  captured  him,  not  far  from  the 
present  residence  of  Pleasant  Rose,  on  the  farm  of  James 
Rose.  They  took  him  to  old  Grantsburg,  now  Wartrace, 
and  placed  him  under  guard,  in  the  office  of  Dr.  W.  J.  Fern, 
a  young  physican,  practising  there  at  that  time,  while  some 
one  went  to  summon  the  sheriff.  During  the  night  a  mob 
of  fifty  men  or  more  gathered  and  overpowered  the  guards 
took  the  prisoner  to  a  large  group  of  walnut  trees, 
about  two  hundred  yards  west  of  Wartrace,  at  the  bend 
of  the  road  and  hung  him.  The  tree  on  which  he  was  hung 
was  pointed  out  to  the  youth  and  strangers  for  many  years, 
but  has  since  died  or  been  cut  away.  The  prisoner  gave 
the  name  of  Patilo  and  his  home  as  Kentucky. 

Captain  Franklin  was  a  very  popular  man,  especially 
among  men  who  had  served  under  him  in  the  war,  and  it 
has  been  remarked  that  some  of  his  men  were  instrumental 
in  raising  the  mob  but  no  trouble  was  ever  taken  to  find 
out  who  they  were. 

J.  W.  Bayles  was  a  bachelor  and  lived  alone  on  his 
farm  about  three  miles  east  of  town.  He  was  a  native  of 
Baltimore,  Md.,  was  well  educated  and  must  have  belonged 
to  a  good  family.  He  was  supposed  to  have  money,  which 
was  without  doubt,  the  cause  of  his  murder.  Some  parties 
went  to  his  house  at  night,  murdered  him  and  left  their 
masks.  It  is  not  known  whether  they  secured  any  money  or 
not.  There  were  arrests  made,  but  no  one  could  be  con- 
victed of  the  crime. 

Daniel  Gage  a  peaceful  and  inoffensive  citizen  was  shot 
by  David  Avery,  apparently  without  any  reason,  and  none 
was  ever  found,  except  it  was  thought  Avery  mistook  him 
for  another  man.  There  was  no  jail  in  the  county  at  this 
time  and  Avery,  under  arrest  was  being  taken  to  the  Cairo 
jail.  He  was  sitting  near  a  window  in  the  Big  Four  station 
waiting  for  a  train,  when  he  was  shot  from  the  outside.  It 
has  never  been  known  who  committed  the  deed. 

Charles  Farris  drove  up  in  front  of  his  sister's  home, 
Mrs.  Joshua  Howell,  who  lives  about  a  quarter  of  a  mile 
east  of  Wartrace.  Mr.  Farris  stopped  and  the  family  came 
out  to  visit  with  him,  when  his  nephew,  Duff  Howell,  raised 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY  141 


his  gun.  It  was  discharged  accidently  and  shot  his  uncle 
through  the  head,  killing  him  instantly.  No  motive  could 
be  found  as  no  unpleasantness  existed  between  the  parties. 
This  accident  occurred  about  1910,  and  was  no  doubt  a  sud- 
den and  unrealized  action  of  the  moment. 

TRAGEDY 

About  the  year  1845  there  was  a  gang  of  horse  thieves 
and  counterfeiters  carrying  on  business  in  the  outlying 
district  of  Massac  County  bordering  Johnson.  The  citizens 
of  Massac  had  been  annoyed  by  this  lawlessness  until  they 
felt  compelled  to  protect  themselves,  officers  of  the  law 
were  unable  to  cope  with  the  situation.  They  divided  into 
two  factions,  one  called  Flatheads  the  other  Regulators. 
While  the  majority  of  the  crimes  were  committed  in  Massac 
and  the  headquarters  were  in  that  county  the  lawless  war- 
fare extended  into  our  borders  to  the  extent  that  some  of 
our  best  citizens  living  near  the  boundary  line  arrayed 
themselves  on  the  side  of  the  Regulators  and  went  out  to 
help  their  neighbors  rid  themselves  of  the  undesirables. 
The  following  is  a  letter  by  Dr.  W.  J.  Gibbs,  who  was  a 
resident  of  Vienna  and  had  served  in  the  Legislature  in 
1840-41. 

Head  Quarters,  Norvoo,  111.,  Nov.  3,  1846. 
Dr.  W.  J.  Gibbs : 

Sir:  It  has  been  represented  to  me,  that  a  number  of 
the  people  of  the  counties  of  Massac,  Johnson  and  Pope,  in 
this  State;  and  of  the  adjoining  county  in  Kentucky,  have 
united  themselves  into  a  band  of  regulators  to  drive  off  a 
band  of  horse  theives  and  counterfeiters,  alledged  to  exist 
in  the  County  of  Massac,  that  a  number  of  other  good  citi- 
zens deeming  such  a  course  to  be  unlawful  and  unnecessary, 
have  opposed  the  regulators;  that  the  regulators  now 
threaten  to  drive  them  off  with  the  horse  theives,  and  have 
ordered  several  of  them  to  leave  the  county,  under  pen- 
alty of  death.  It  is  also  represented  that  the  Grand  Jury 
of  Massac  County,  have  found  indictments  against  several 
of  the  regulators,  for  violent  conduct  that  the  regulators 
refuse  to  be  arrested  or  tried  by  law ;  and  threaten  to  drive 
off  or  kill  members  of  the  grand  jury,  and  the  witnesses, 
upon  whose  evidence  the  indictments  were  found;  and 
threaten  to  drive  off  or  kill  the  sheriff  and  several  other 
persons,  and  civil  officers  of  the  county,  who  have  shown 


142  A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


a  disposition  to  aid  the  Sheriff  in  keeping  the  peace  in  mak- 
ing arrests,  and  in  preventing  violence. 

I  therefore,  hereby  authorize  you,  to  inquire  into  the 
truth  of  the  above  representations  and  others  that  may  be 
made  to  you ;  and  if  in  your  opinion  a  Militia  force  shall  be 
necessary  in  said  county,  you  are  hereby  authorized  to  call 
in  the  Colonels  commanding  the  Militia  in  the  Counties  of 
Gallatin,  Johnson,  Pulaski,  Alexander  and  Union,  who,  are 
hereby  commanded  to  call  out  such  force  as  may  be  de- 
manded; and  they  will  then  act  according  to  the  following 
orders. 

1st.  It  is  not  my  design  that  such  Militia  force  should 
be  used  for  the  protection  of  horse  thieves,  counterfeiters 
or  other  notorous  rogues,  whose  presence  for  a  long  time 
past  in  that  part  of  the  country  has  enraged  the  minds  of 
a  great  many  honest  people. 

Such  Militia  force  will  be  used,  to  protect  the  Sheriff 
and  his  deputies,  and  all  Magistrates  and  Constables  to- 
gether with  the  members  of  the  grand  jury  and  the  wit- 
nesses before  them,  unless  such  witnesses  be  rouges,  and 
also  such  Militia  force  will  be  used  for  the  protection  of 
all  honest,  well  meaning  people,  who  have  merely  disappro- 
ed  of  the  conduct  of  the  regulators;  who  lecture  that  they 
have  carried  matters  too  far;  and  have  opposed  them  on 
that  account,  and  who  are,  or  may  be  threatened  therefore. 

The  Militia  force  hereby  ordered,  will  not  be  required 
to  aid  in  driving  off  anyone,  nor  to  prevent  any  notorious 
rogue  from  being  driven  off. 

THOMAS  FORD, 
Governor  and  Com.  in  Chief. 

There  were  some  rough  men  in  this  county  in  its 
early  settlement  and  even  many  years  afterward.  They 
did  not  respect  the  law  and  many  cared  little  for  human 
life.  Horse  stealing  was  a  common  occurrence  and  some 
times  the  thieves  were  dealt  with  severly  out  side  the  law 
but  this  form  of  dishonesty  is  about  extinct  in  this  county. 
In  former  times  a  few  hogs  and  cattle  would  occasionally, 
somehow,  get  the  other  man's  mark  when  stock  ran  at 
Large  on  the  range,  but  since  the  days  of  barbed  wire  and 
stock  law,  men  have  become  more  honest.  The  most  noted 
piece  of  burglary  ever  committed  in  this  county  was  the 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


143 


theft  of  a  saw  mill,  said  to  be  by  one  William  Lizenbeck.  The 
mill  was  taken  up,  moved  a  considerable  distance  and 
operated  for  some  time  without  the  knowledge  of  the  owner. 

The  noted  Carterville  trial  was  brought  here  from 
Williamson  County  in  1899.  It  was  a  long  drawn  out  affair 
and  involved  much  time  and  money.  A  part  of  a  company 
of  National  Guards  was  kept  at  Vienna  during  the  trial 
which  grew  out  of  the  shooting  into  a  railroad  coach  at  Law- 
ler,  Williamson  County  and  killing  at  least  one  colored 
woman.  The  trouble  arose  from  the  objection  of  the 
miners  to  the  employment  of  negro  labor  in  the  mines. 
There  were  fifteen  men  on  trial  and  resulted  in  the  acquital 
of  the  defendants.  Some  very  prominent  legal  talent  was 
employed  in  the  case;  Ex-Governor  Charles  P.  Johnston, 
of  Missouri,  R.  R.  Fowler,  W.  W.  Clemens,  Edward  Spiller, 
W.  W.  Duncan  and  Geo.'  W.  Pillow  of  Marion,  111.  F.  M. 
Youngblood  and  W.  W.  Barr,  of  Carbondale  111.,  S.  H.  Reed, 
of  DuQuoin,  111.,  G.  H.  Henshaw,  J.  L.  Gallimore,  R.  B. 
Morton,  Carterville,  111.,  W.  A.  Spann,  P.  T.  Chapman,  G. 
B.  Gillespie,  and  L.  0.  Whitnel  of  Vienna. 


TECUMSEH  SPRING,  REBMAN  PARK,  FERN  CLYFFE 


144  A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


VIENNA  TOWNSHIP  HIGH  SCHOOL 


CASTLE  ROCK.  REBMAN  PARK,  FERN  CLYFFE 


IiNDIANS 

PART  IV 

Long  ago,  so  long  ago  no  man  knows  when,  a  colony  of 
stone  grave  people  came  into  Southern  Illinois,  they  prob- 
ably came  from  the  valley  of  the  Cumberland  and  spread 
over  the  county  between  the  rivers  as  far  north  as  Monroe 
County,  where  they  crossed  into  Missouri.  They  left  be- 
hind their  unmistakable  sign  of  burying  their  dead  in 
graves  lined  and  covered  with  rough  flag  stone.  Where 
they  vanished  no  one  knows.  There  can  be  no  doubt  but 
that  Indians  inhabited  Johnson  County  long  before  the  ad- 
vent of  the  white  settlers.  They  have  left  their  trails  in 
the  forests.  Older  people  have  told  those  now  living 
about  the  Indians  here  when  they  came  and  the  roving 
bands  of  them  passing  through  the  county  for  years  after- 
ward; one  story  is  told  of  the  wife  of  an  early  resident  of 
Vienna  Samuel  J.  Chapman  who  came  to  the  county  about 
1816,  how  she  baked  bread  under  a  brush  arbor  and 
sold  it  to  the  Indians.  Uncle  George  Elkins,  born  in  1825, 
still  living,  says  he  sold  pumpkins  to  them  when  they  were 
passing  through  the  county.  However,  there  seems 
to  be  no  tradition  or  history  naming  the  tribes,  except  Rey- 
nolds, an  early  historian  of  Illinois  speaks  frequently  of  the 
Kickapoos  being  around  Kaskaskia  and  Goshen,  but  that 
they  lived  just  here  one  can  not  definitely  say. 

There  is  no  dispute  about  the  Shawnees  living  around 
Shawneetown,  but  it  is  not  certain  that  they  came  as  far 
west  as  Johnson.  Some  historians  claim  they  lived  here  in 
the  eighteenth  century.  Their  signs  were  coffin  shaped 
graves  formed  of  flat  stones  without  cement ;  pottery,  finely 
wrought  shell  and  copper  ornaments  are  found  in  them. 
Blanchard's  maps  locate  the  Pinkeshaws  and  Miamis  in 
this  county  in  1765.  He  also  locates  Kickapoos  here  in  1812. 
The  Indians  ceded  all  lands  in  this  section  to  the  United 
States  by  a  treaty  signed  at  Edwardsville,  111.,  1819. 

The  remains  of  a  race  before  ours  and  probably  before 
the  tribe  of  Indians  of  which  George,  who  lived  on  Georges 
Creek  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  county,  was  the  chief,  has 
been  found.  In  this  county  there  is  a  picture  of  a  buffalo 
painted  on  the  rocks  of  a  bluff  near  Ozark,  which  is  sup- 
posed to  have  been  done  by  Indians  or  some  other  former 


146  A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


inhabitants.  There  is  no  history  or  legend  of  its  origin  re- 
maining with  the  present  settlers.  Many  Indian  graves 
have  been  found  in  the  county.  Stone  implements,  such  as 
Tomahawks,  arrow  heads,  and  pottery  have  been  found  in 
various  parts  of  the  county,  a  collection  of  which  may  be 
seen  in  the  Carneigie  Library  in  the  exhibit  of  the  Daniel 
Chapman  Chapter  Daughters  of  the  American  Revolution. 
There  is  also  some  fossil  foot-prints  in  the  sand  stone  for- 
mation in  the  community  of  Berea  in  the  southeast  section 
of  the  county.  The  foot  is  twelve  inches  long,  has  but  four 
toes  and  shaped  something  like  a  man's  foot. 

SETTLERS 
The  early  settlers  who  did  not  come  direct  from  Vir- 
ginia or  the  Carolinas,  came  from  Kentucky  and  Tennessee. 
Emigrated  from  some  of  the  colonies,  lived  awhile  in  the 
latter  states  and  pressed  on  farther  west. 

Virginia  was,  for  many  years  in  the  seventeenth  cen- 
tury, the  refuge  of  those  who  were  in  turn  prominent,  im- 
poverished, endangered,  or  exiled  in  the  civil  wars  of  Crom- 
well's time.  According  as  Puritan  or  Cavalier  triumphed 
at  home,  so  changed  the  complexion  of  the  emigration  of 
the  old  Dominion.  The  Carolinas  were  peopled  by  the 
Cavaliers,  who  expected  to  find  sudden  wealth  in  the  new 
country,  to  set  up  the  customs  of  the  court  and  propigate 
the  gay  and  chivalrous  blood  of  the  Knight.  Between  these 
and  the  French  Huguenots  who  sought  to  find  here  religious 
liberty,  there  could  but  be  sharp  lines  of  social  distinction. 
Those  who  came  for  adventure  and  gain  were  soon  unde- 
ceived; those  who  sought  freedom  were  made  to  feel  the 
heavy  hand  of  law  and  unjust  taxes. 

Then  came  the  great  leveler  war.  From  the  descen- 
dants of  this  people  who  were  tried,  tested,  melted  and  re- 
molded in  the  fires  of  the  struggle  for  independence,  came 
the  purified  Anglo  Saxon;  that  sturdy  pioneer  to  whom 
civilization  owes  an  undischargeable  debt.  Of  this  stock 
were  our  ancestors  and  thus  began  our  early  settlements. 
A  few  families  at  a  time,  occasionally  a  New  Yorker,  a 
New  Englander  or  a  Canadian,  would  sift  into  this  steady 
stream  of  searchers  for  a  new  home.  All  the  colors  blended 
make  "Lablanc,"  what  else  could  follow  but  that  Pilgrim. 
Cavalier,  Huguenot  and  Yankee  blended  should  make  the 
most  perfect  type  of  citizen. 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY  147 


A  great  many  of  our  pioneers  had  lost  their  possessions 
in  the  Revolution  and  sought  to  rebuild  their  fortunes  on 
new  soil.  Some  of  them  brought  slaves,  old  silver,  pewter 
plate,  native  shrubs  and  flowers  but  each  brought  the  char- 
acteristics peculiar  to  their  section  of  the  country.  The 
hospitable,  easy-going,  genial  traits  of  the  southerner  have 
prevailed  in  this  county, 

Fordham,  an  early  historian  of  our  state,  divides  the 
inhabitants  of  Southern  Illinois  into  four  classes,  as  fol- 
lows: "First  Hunters;  second,  first  settlers;  third,  doctors, 
lawyers,  store-kepers,  furriers,  mechanics,  those  who  trade 
and  speculate  in  land,  who  found  towns,  those  who  put  too 
much  reliance  in  physical  prowess;  fourth,  old  settlers,  rich, 
independent,  well  informed.  Johnson  County  must  have 
had  some  residents  belonging  to  some  of  these  classes  but 
whether  she  could  aspire  to  having  any  in  the  fourth  class 
or  not,  one  could  not  undertake  to  say. 

The  first  settler  in  the  original  Johnson  County,  that 
we  have  a  real  knowledge  of,  was  Daniel  Flannery,  who 
came  to  this  section  of  the  country  in  1777  and  took  up  a 
claim  twenty-five  or  thirty  miles  above  the  mouth  of  the 
Ohio  River  and  on  or  near  the  Mississippi. "  Flannerys 
and  McElmunnys  erected  a  station  or  block-house  in  Alex- 
ander County  about  1783  in  township  sixteen  oposite  island 
number  twenty-twro  in  the  Mississippi  River.  These  set- 
tlers left  the  country  and  none  of  them  were  here  in  1800." 
— Reynolds.  He  also  says,  "The  Indians  seemed  to  be 
especially  hostile  toward  the  American  settlers  from  1783 
to  1789 ;  but  they  did  not  molest  the  French."  "It  was  the 
policy  of  the  French,  to  conciliate  the  natives,  whom  they 
invariably  treated  with  kindness  and  consideration  never 
<*hown  to  that  unhappy  race  by  other  Europeans  with 
whom  they  preserved  a  faith  unbroken  on  either  side." — 
Ford. 

Reynolds  states  that  James  Flannery  was  killed  by  the 
Indians  in  1783,  which  would  explain  the  Flannerys 
leaving  the  country  for  a  time.  They  later  returned,  at 
least,  Daniel  Flannery  did,  and  established  his  claim  as  a 
settler  before  the  land  office  commission  in  1809  at  Kas- 
kaskia.  Issac  and  Jacob  Flannery  entered  land  in  Randolph 
County  in  1811,  most  likely  in  the  same  locality  where 
Daniel  lived.     The  name  of  Flannery  continues  to  appear 


148  A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


on  our  court  records  as  late  as  1841.  Other  given  names 
of  this  family  were  Samuel,  Elijah,  Jacob,  Abram  and 
Thomas.  Reynolds  says,  "There  was  not  a  settler  on  the 
trace  from  Hull's  landing,  on  the  Ohio  River  to  Kaskaskia 
in  1800."  Boggs  states  there  were  650  settlers  along  the 
Ohio  River  in  1801,  from  the  census  taken  by  Congress. 
Many  of  these  families,  no  doubt,  settled  in  the  original 
bounds  of  this  county,  and  while  our  present  territory  did 
not  lie  directly  on  the  river  some  reckless  adventurer,  no 
doubt,  found  good  game  farther  in  the  interior,  set  his 
stakes  and  built  his  little  cabin  in  the  present  limits  of 
Johnson  County. 

John  and  Joseph  Worley  are  given  as  residents  of  Illi- 
nois in  1785.  Joseph  Worley  is  given  as  an  American  resi- 
dent of  Cahokia  in  1789,  and  James  Finny's  name  also  ap- 
pears as  an  American  citizen  of  Illinois  in  1780.  This  was 
taken  from  the  Cahokia  records.  That  these  are  the  men 
whose  names  appear  on  Johnson  County's  early  records, 
there  can  be  little  if  any  doubt. 

The  Ray  family  settled  in  the  northeast  part  of  the 
county  in  1803  in  the  vicinity  of  Stonefort,  but  they  are  not 
further  indentified  with  our  history  through  records. 

William  Lawrence  lived  somewhere  in  the  county 
originally  set  off  in  1812  and  called  Johnson,  but  just  where 
or  how  early  has  not  been  revealed.  He  was  licensed  to 
keep  tavern,"  where  he  now  lives  in  1813."  A  road  was 
ordered  built  by  his  house  in  1814.  He  paid  taxes  on  a 
still  in  1816  and  lived  on  Cache.  Old  receipts  in  his  estate 
papers  show  he  paid  bills  in  Mulenberg,  Kentucky,  which 
would  indicate  he  came  from  that  state.  Another  old  paper 
of  his  would  lead  one  to  believe  he  may  have  lived  here  as 
early  as  1803.     (See  old  Papers.) 

Samuel  Worthington  was  another  pioneer  of  that  time 
and  connected  with  the  Lawrences  by  marriage.  There  are 
some  decendants  of  Worthingtons  living  in  Pulaski  County, 
but  it  is  not  known  if  they  are  of  this  family. 

The  next  resident  is  William  Simpson,  who  lived  in 
Johnson  County  proper.  While  it  is  certain  there  were 
settlers  here  before  him,  there  is  no  record  of  them.  Tra- 
dition says  he  came  here  in  1805  from  Kentucky  by  way  of 
Shawneetown,  making  his  own  road  part  of  the  way.     His 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY  149 


name  appears  on  the  Randolph  County  records  as  early  as 
1808,  and  he  must  have  lived  here  some  time  before  as  he 
brought  suit  against  Hampton  Pankey  for  $300  damage  in 
the  above  year.  He  settled  near  what  is  known  as  Double 
Bridges  in  Simpson  Township,  built  a  double  log  house  and 
opened  as  far  as  is  known  the  first  tavern  in  the  county. 
There  is  a  school  house  and  cemetery  located  at  the  present 
time  where  his  original  house  and  farm  building  stood.  It 
is  about  two  miles  north  of  Simpson  and  three  from  the 
county  line  of  Pope. 

James  Finney  was  a  resident  of  Randolph,  tradition 
says  coming  from  Virginia,  in  1806,  as  he  was  appointed 
judge  of  the  court  of  Common  Pleas  for  that  county  that 
year.  If  his  residence  was  in  this  section  of  the  county  at 
that  time  he  was  also  an  early  settler,  since  it  is  certain 
that  he  lived  in  the  present  limits  of  Johnson  County  later. 
He  would  have  had  to  live  here  at  least  a  short  time  before 
his  appointment.  The  fact  that  Reynolds  does  not  speak  of 
him  as  a  first  resident  of  Kaskaskia  would  make  it  plausible 
that  he  lived  in  this  section.  James  Bain  moved  here  from 
Kentucky  in  1807,  or  the  early  part  of  the  following  year, 
as  there  is  a  record  of  a  child  of  Mr.  Bain's  being  born 
here  in  1808.  He  settled  what  is  known  as  the  Vickers 
Farm,  now  owned  by  Levi  J.  Smith.  The  house  stood  about 
one  half  mile  north  of  the  present  limits  of  Vienna.  Mrs. 
Eliza  Dwyer  who  came  to  this  county  from  Ohio  in  1857 
and  is  now  ninety-four  years  old  says  she  knew  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  James  Bain  quite  well,  and  they  were  very  old  when 
she  made  their  acquaintance.  They  told  her  they  lived  here 
a  long  time  before  they  had  any  neighbors,  but  the  Indians, 
who  occupied  the  hills  south  of  town  where  the  farms  of 
John  B.  Jackson,  Joshua  Arnold,  and  Ed.  Harvick  are  now 
located.  Mrs.  Dwyer  also  says  evidence  such  as  arrow 
heads,  stone  implements,  and  graves,  of  the  Indians  having 
lived  here  were  still  found  after  she  came  to  Vienna. 

The  second  settler  who  came  to  Vienna  neighborhood 
was  Mathew  Mathis,  who  opened  the  Loeney  Farm.  It  is 
quite  plain  he  lived  in  the  neighborhood  as  he  and  his  son 
carried  the  chain  when  the  town  of  Vienna  was  laid  off, 
although  his  land  was  not  entered  until  1832.  The  next 
neighbor  that  can  be  traced  directly  is  Francis  Jordan  who 
entered  his  land  December  1814,  the  first  land  entered  at 


150  A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


Shawneetown  land  office,  that  lays  in  this  county  proper. 
This  is  known  as  the  Oliver  Farm,  about  two  miles  west 
of  Vienna,  just  off  the  West  Vienna  road  and  is  now  owned 
by  J.  C.  Chapman  and  G.  B.  Gillespie.  John  Oliver  another 
first  settler  occupied  part  of  this  farm.  Henry  Beggs  was 
another  early  neighbor  in  this  county.  He  entered  the  Aus- 
brooks  farm  just  north  west  of  Vienna,  now  owned  by  F. 
R.  Johnston,  1831.  Land  entries,  tradition  from  Steward 
Sutliff,  grand  son  of  James  Bain;  and  the  statements  of 
Mrs.  Dwyer  are  the  authority  for  these  early  settlers. 

Peter  Clark,  Thos.  C.  Paterson  and  Henry  Sams  lived 
on  the  west  side  of  the  county  in  1816.  George  Evans  set- 
tled here  as  early  as  1806. 

Isaac  Wilcox  was  another  very  early  resident  here. 
His  name  appears  on  the  Randolph  County  records  in  1802. 
He  was  a  merchant  or  trader  and  the  court  records  show 
he  had  many  cases  on  the  docket. 

"A  family  of  Quarkers  of  North  Carolina  named 
Stokes  settled  several  miles  east  of  Jonesboro  in  1808." — 
Reynolds.  This  was  the  founding  of  the  Stokes  family  liv- 
ing in  Union  County  and  the  western  part  of  our  county 
at  the  present  time. 

John  Bradshaw  and  John  Phelps  lived  on  the  west  side 
of  the  county  at  or  near  Elvira,  but  it  was  Randolph  when 
they  were  appointed  Justices  of  the  Peace  in  1809. 

Jesse  Griggs,  who  was  one  of  the  first  judges  for  John- 
son County  and  Nathan  Davis  whose  name  also  appears  on 
our  early  court  records  lived  in  that  part  of  the  county  that 
was  cut  off  to  make  Jackson,  at  least,  they  with  James  Hall 
were  the  Commissioners  of  that  county  when  Brownsville 
was  established  as  the  county  seat. 

"Henry  Noble  and  Jesse  Griggs  settled  on  Big  Muddy 
1804."— Reynolds. 

Reynolds  makes  the  statement  that  the  families  of  Chil- 
ton, Brazel  Lorton,  More,  Downing,  Lemom,  Copeland,  Lacy 
Vanhoozer,  Rattent,  Stublefield,  Hewitt,  and  Jones  were  at- 
tached to  the  eastern  Goshen  settlement,  which  was 
in  Madison  County,  southeast  of  Edwardsville.  It  is 
not  known  whether  Reynolds  considered  this  section   of 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY  151 


country  in  Goshen  settlement  or  whether  some  of  these 
families  settled  there  and  moved  here  later,  but  the  names 
of  Brazel  Copeland,  Lacy,  Hewitt,  Stublefield  and  Jones  are 
names  of  early  settlers  of  this  section. 

Reynolds  is  also  authority  for  the  following:  "White- 
sides  and  their  numerous  connections  were  from  North 
Carolina,  (family  tradition  says,  Virginia.)  They  first  came 
to  Kentucky,  then  to  Illinois  in  1793.  The  patriarch  and 
head  of  the  family  was  William  Whiteside.  He  erected  a 
fort  or  blockhouse  on  the  road  from  Cahokia  to  Kaskaskia, 
which  became  famous  as  Whiteside's  Station.  He  was 
prominent  as  an  Indian  fighter,  had  a  large  family  of  sons 
who  were  also  prominent  in  the  warfare  against  the  Indians 
and  in  the  War  of  1812/'  The  Whitesides  of  this  and  Pope 
Counties  are  a  branch  of  this  pioneer  family.  The  founder 
in  this  section  settled  on  Big  Bay  about  1804  or  1805. 

John  Elkins  who  also  came  from  North  Carolina  in 
1809  settled  on  the  west  side  of  the  county.  He  later  moved 
to  Arkansas  but  left  four  children  who  have  descendants 
living  in  this  county,  especially  in  the  western  part. 

Hamlet  Furguson  was  a  resident  of  this  county  in  1810 
and  was  among  the  first  judges  holding  court  here.  Ham- 
letsburg,  in  Pope  County,  was  named  in  his  honor. 

William  Stiles  lived  in  Center  Township  in  1813. 

Levi  Casey  settled  in  Bloomfield  Township,  1808.  Hez- 
kiah  West  came  to  this  county  from  South  Carolina  between 
1808  and  1810,  and  settled  in  the  southwest  part  in  the  sec- 
tion known  as  West  Eden.  The  locality  took  its  name  from 
him.  His  descendants  are  numerous  and  hosts  of  them  still 
reside  in  the  county.  Jacob  Harvick  was  another  pioneer. 
The  year  of  his  coming  is  not  definite  but  his  son  was  a 
militia  officer  here  in  1812.  William  McFatridge  was  the 
founder  of  the  large  family  of  that  name  coming  here  from 
North  Carolina  about  1810.  His  son  John  was  also  the 
head  of  a  family  here  very  early  in  the  county  history. 
They  settled  on  Mack  Creek  which  was  named  in  their 
honor.  Samuel  Westbrooks  came  to  this  county  in  1812,  but 
moved  to  Equality  in  1826.  John  and  Isaac  Worley  lived 
at  Elvira  1814,  ancestors  of  the  Worley  family  of  this 
county.  William  Shelby  lived  on  the  east  side  of  the  county. 
William  Parker  lived  near  the  Ohio  River  in  1827.    William 


152  A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


McKee  father  to  Green  B.  and  a  large  family  of  that  name 
settled  in  what  is  now  Simpson  Township  in  1819.  Samuel 
McGowan  entered  land  here  in  1818,  now  owned  by  Ernest 
Cooper  near  Walter  Sharps.  The  Beggs  Wiggs  and  Gur- 
ley  families  were  very  early  residents  on  the  western  side 
of  the  county  and  in  Union.  Marvin  Fuller  was  a  resident 
of  Randolph  County  in  1810.  He  is  connected  with  the 
very  earliest  courts  and  no  doubt,  lived  in  this  section  at 
that  date.  Elias  Harrell,  was  a  settler  in  1819,  and  Joel 
Thacker  settled  here  about  1820.  Green  B.  Veach, 
a  pioneer,  from  North  Carolina,  came  here  very 
early.  He  settled  in  the  eastern  section  of  th  county  but 
the  date  is  not  known.  He  served  in  the  Black  Hawk  War 
from  this  county.  I.  Weaver  lived  in  Center  Township  in 
1813.  Some  of  his  descendants  live  in  Pulaski  at  the  pres- 
ent time.  The  Borin  family  also  lived  in  that  section  of 
Johnson  in  1812,  coming  from  Tennessee.  John  Byers  who 
was  appointed  to  take  the  census  of  1820  lived  in  the  north- 
west section  of  Johnson,  that  made  Jackson,  in  1812. 
Thomas  Furguson  lived  on  the  eastern  side  of  the  county 
near  Big  Bay  in  1812.  He  operated  a  ferry  in  1814  at  Gol- 
conda,  paying  taxes  into  the  county  treasury  for  that  year. 
Vance  Lusk  and  James  Whiteside  resided  on  the  eastern 
side  of  the  county  in  1816.  Their  neighborhood  later  be- 
came Pope  County. 

John  Whitiker  located  in  the  western  section  of  the 
county  that  was  made  into  Union  or  Alexander  when  they 
were  organized.  He  paid  taxes  on  his  still  in  this  county 
in  1816.  Joseph  McCorcle  was  a  settler  of  1818.  William 
Fisher  came  across  the  border  from  Indiana  to  this  county 
in  1810.  John  S.  Graves  was  another  early  settler.  John 
Copeland  came  in  1815  or  1816.  Samuel  J.  Chapman  came 
from  New  York  state  about  1816,  settling  first  in  what  is 
now  Bloomfield.  His  father,  Daniel,  came  from  the  same 
state  two  or  three  years  later,  settling  on  a  farm,  near  the 
present  Bloomfield  and  Simpson  Township  line.  Now  oc- 
cupied by  W.  P.  Emmerson. 

Milton  Ladd,  Ivy  Reynolds,  Jesse  Canady,  Alfred  and 
D.  Y.  Bridges,  and  many  others  whose  names  appear  on  the 
court  records  are  fully  identified  with  the  first  settling  of 
the  county.  Mrs.  Sarah  Howerton  a  pioneer  mother  of 
Johnson  County  deserves  mention.     She  was  the  daughter 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY  153 


of  Randolph  Casey  and  was  born  in  this  county  in  1823. 
She  was  married  and  moved  to  the  Howerton  Farm  near 
what  is  now  New  Burnside,  in  1842,  where  she  spent  the 
remainder  of  her  life,  seventy-three  years,  as  wife  and 
mother.  The  dwelling  was  a  double  log  house  so  familiar 
in  the  early  days  of  this  county.  Many  Indians  passed  her 
home  and  dangerous  wild  animals  were  numerous.  Often 
when  her  husband  was  called  away  from  home  and  she 
was  left  alone  over  night  with  the  little  ones  she  would 
build  a  fire  outside  the  house  to  frighten  the  wild  beasts 
away.  She  married  at  the  age  of  19  and  raised  eight  chil- 
dren. Although  a  pioneer  of  a  later  day  she  was  a  founder 
just  as  truly  as  those  coming  from  other  states. 

People  who  settled  on  land  without  entering  it  were 
called  squatters;  most  of  the  people  were  squatters  in  this 
county,  as  there  was  no  land  office  nearer  that  Kaskaskia, 
and  it  was  not  established  till  1804.  Shawneetown  land 
office  was  established  in  1812.  Captain  Cunningham, 
father  of  Mrs.  Mary  A.  Logan  was  the  agent  there  about 
the  fifties.  It  was  considered  a  sort  of  crime  to  enter  land 
from  under  a  squatter.  In  1856  there  was  a  special  rate 
of  twelve  and  one-half  cents  per  acre,  made  to  the  settlers. 
This  was  called  the  Bit  Act.  There  was  a  great  scramble 
to  get  to  the  land  office  at  this  time.  Men  rode  horse  back, 
walked,  pooled  their  horses  and  wagons  to  make  a  con- 
veyance, in  fact,  any  way  to  get  to  Shawneetown.  Some- 
times it  would  take  ten  days  to  make  the  journey,  and  wait 
your  turn,  since  they  stood  in  line  as  one  would  at  a 
White  House  reception.  Many  people  who  had  the  money 
entered  all  the  land  they  could  for  speculation. 

The  people  of  this  section  had  to  go  to  the  old  capitol, 
Kaskaskia,  to  enter  land  or  for  any  legal  business,  to 
serve  on  juries  or  appear  before  them.  The  first  deed  re- 
corded in  Johnson  County  was  not,  of  course,  within  the 
present  limits,  but  appears  on  our  records;  it  is  from 
Robert  Reynolds  to  Charles  Davis,  made  in  1805  witnessed 
by  Moses  Oliver.  This  land  is  on  the  Mississippi  River. 
Another  deed  was  from  John  McElmuny  to  David  McEl- 
muny  also  on  the  Mississippi.  It  was  made  July  3,  1810. 
Frequent  mention  is  made  of  McElmuny's  Station  in  the 
description  of  land  in  the  old  Kaskaskia  records.  A  station 
was  a  block  house  with  a  second  story  extending  out  over 


154  A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


the  lower  one.  The  upper  one  was  used  as  the  living  quart- 
ers so  that  the  approach  of  the  enemy  could  be  easily  seen, 
while  the  lower  one  was  used  to  corral  the  live  stock  of  the 
settlers. 

The  following  is  a  list  and  the  date  of  entry  of  those 
first  entering  land  at  Shawneetown  in  Johnson  county  pro- 
per or  as  it  is  now  outlined;  William  McFatridge,  May  23, 
1815;  John  Elkins,  Nov.  13,  1815;  James  Bain,  Feb.  13, 
1816;  Hardy  Johnson,  June  26,  1817;  Squire  Choat,  March 
1818;  Walton  Gore,  Oct.  5.  1818;  John  W.  Gore,  Oct.  10, 
1818;  Jacob  Harvick,  Nov.  15,  1818;  Richard  Marcer,  July 
10,  1818;  Hezekiah  West,  Jan.  2,  1818;  Andrew  McGowan, 
Jan,  2,  1818;  Elias  Harrell,  Sept.  25,  1820;  Henry  Beggs, 
1831 ;  Joel  Thacker,  1839;  Adam  Harvick,  1818;  James 
Finny,  1817;  Martin  Harvick,  1818;  Joel  Johnson,  1818; 
David  Shearer,  1818;  Thomas  Dunsworth,  1819;  David 
Elms,  1817;  Abram  Hendry,  1818;  Benjamin  McGinnis, 
1817;  Richard  McGinnis,  1815;  Emmet  Elkins,  1818;  Jere- 
miah Lissenby,  1818;  John  Plumer,  1819;  (John  Plummer 
entered  quite  a  lot  of  land  no  doubt  for  speculation)  ;  E.  J. 
J.  Freeman,  1818;  Daniel  Delaney,  1818;  Sidwell,  Paxton 
and  Chambers,  1818;  (they  also  entered  several  tracks,) 
Henry  Croswait  and  Richard  Murry,  1818;  Samuel  Lang- 
don,  1817;  John  McFatridge,  1832;  Sallie  Finney,  1837; 
Mathew  Mathis,  1832;  Richard  Elliot,  1818;  Joel  S.  Thac- 
ker, 1839 ;  Francis  Gehon,  1819  ;  Adam  and  Martin  Harvick ; 
1818;  Louis  J.  Simpson  and  Millington  Smith,  1817;  J.  O. 
Russell,  1816;  Rix  Carter  and  Pleasant  Axley,  1818;  N. 
Longworth,  1818;  (ancestor  of  the  present  Nicholas 
Longworth,  Republican  leader  in  Congress  from  Ohio,  and 
the  son-in-law  of  the  world  famous  Theodore  Roosevelt.) 

John  Worley,  heir  of  Samuel  Worley  granted  100  acres 
of  land  for  military  duty  by  authority  of  Congress,  1791 — 
Kaskaskia  records.  Deed;  Shaffer  to  Lawrence  N.  W. 
Quarter  Sec.  32  township  13,  S.  Range  1  east,  1815.  An 
early  transfer  in  this  county  proper  was  Mathew  Mathis 
sold  to  William  Mathis  S.  W.  quarter  of  S.  E.  quarter  of 
section  30,  township  12,  S.  range  3  east;  another  early 
transfer  Thomas  Gore  ownership  of  property  to  John  Gore, 
recorded  in  1816.  John  Bain  bought  land  here  1830,  E. 
half  of  N.  E.  quarter,  Sec.  4  township  12  S.  range  3  east; 
Benjamin  McGee  sold  to  John  S.  Copeland  W.  half  of  the 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY  155 

north  W.  quarter,  Sec.  30,  township  14  S.  range  2  east, 
recorded  August,  1837. 

Peck's  Gazzeteer  published  in  1837  states  the  following 
in  regard  to  Johnson  County  as  it  was  at  that  time.  "Cache 
River  empties  into  the  Ohio  River  about  six  miles  above 
its  mouth  at  Trinity,  a  town  of  one  hotel  and  one  store, 
founded  about  1817  and  was  at  one  time  a  rival  of  Cairo. 
Elvira  settlement  on  Lick  Creek,  branch,  of  Cache,  contains 
about  35  or  40  families.  George's  Creek  empties  into 
Cache,  a  settlement  by  this  name  of  about  25  or  30  families." 
"Tradition  says  this  creek  was  named  for  an  Indian  Chief, 
George,  whose  home  was  on  this  stream  and  who  was  a 
resident  here  long  after  the  white  settlers  came.  "West 
Settlement  in  Johnson  County  on  the  west  side  of  Cache, 
fine  fertile  tracks  of  land,  30  families.  The  McFatridge 
settlement  eight  miles  northeast  of  Vienna,  on  old  road 
from  Golconda  to  Kaskaskia,  on  Cedar  Creek,  60  or  70 
families.  Bridges  settlement  ten  miles  west  of  Vienna,  good 
land,  60  families." 

COLORED  PEOPLE 

There  must  have  been  negroes  here  very  early  in  the 
settlement  of  this  county,  since  there  are  records  of  their 
sale  and  lawsuits  concerning  them  found  in  the  very  first 
of  our  history.  There  were  colored  people  brought  by 
Renault  to  work  mines  in  this  section  1719.  Some  histor- 
ians say  there  were  remains  of  these  mines  found  in  John- 
son county  but  if  in  the  present  territory  no  one  living 
now  has  any  knowledge  or  tradition  concerning  them.  The 
following  is  an  extract  from  the  court  record  of  1813.  "On 
motion  of  Thomas  Green  one  of  the  executors  of  the  estate 
of  Nathanial  Green,  it  is  ordered  that  the  said  Thomas  and 
Parrish  Green  executors  as  aforesaid  do  hire  out  to  the 
highest  bidder  a  certain  negro  girl  named  Hannah  left  as 
a  special  legacy  to  Nancy  Green,  the  daughter  of  Nathanial 
Green  for  the  term  of  one  year  from  the  time  of  hiring  and 
no  longer  and  to  take  security  for  the  return  of  said  girl 
at  the  expiration  of  the  term  and  payment  of  hire."  Some 
of  the  families  owning  slaves  were  Greens,  Wilcox,  Eu- 
banks,  Copeland,  Borin,  Whiteside  and  Cox.  There  were 
no  doubt  others  but  no  record  is  found  of  them.  Several 
colored  slaves  were  taken  up  by  the  authorities,  served  out 
their  terms  by  the  law  were  advertised  and  freed.     This 


156  A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 

being  so  near  the  South  there  may  have  been  an  under 
ground  station  in  this  county.  If  there  was  there  were 
so  many  sympathisers  with  slavery  in  this  section  that  it 
was  never  known  who  kept  them.  The  following  shows  the 
course  pursued  to  recapture  a  runaway  slave,  "$150  RE- 
WARD! RAN  AWAY  from  the  subscriber  a  negro  man 
named  Patrick.  He  left  on  the  21  of  July  last,  a  dark  cop- 
per color  and  will  weight  a  hundred  eighty  or  one  hundred 
ninety  pounds,  about  thirty-four  or  thirty-five  years  old,  five 
feet  and  seven  inches  tall,  round  shoulders  and  heavy  made. 
He  has  a  few  marks  on  his  right  side  near  the  shoulder, 
caused  by  a  whip  from  patroles.  He  has  a  down  look  when 
spoken  to,  a  high  forehead  and  a  small  bald  place  on  his 
head,  very. polite,  he  is  extremely  fond  of  liquor  and  can 
read  print  a  little,  make  coarse  shoes  and  can  cooper  very 
well,  a  good  basket  maker  and  can  bottom  chairs  very  well. 
Also  a  handy  fellow  with  tools  about  a  farm.  He  was 
raised  in  Bedford  County,  Tennessee  by  Robert  Elison  and 
was  sold  to  me  by  Little  and  Thompson  in  February  last. 
He  and  his  wife.  He  has  very  short  hair  and  close  to  his 
head  and  had  on  heavy  whiskers  when  he  left  home.  Since 
he  left  home  I  learned  that  he  has  been  an  old  runaway  and 
no  doubt  but  what  he  will  be  hard  to  get  hold  of.  When 
last  heard  from  he  was  in  the  state  of  Illinois,  Saline  Coun- 
ty inquiring  for  a  free  negro  by  the  name  of  Jackson.  He 
was  in  four  miles  of  Jackson's.  The  settlement  is  called 
South  America  in  consequence  of  the  free  negroes  in  it.  If 
taken  and  well  ironed  in  jail  so  that  I  can  get  hold  of  him 
I  will  pay  the  above  reward  and  all  necessary  expenses  by 
addressing  me  at  Bahalie  office,  Marshall  County,  Missis- 
sippi, November  23,  1850,  D.  B.  Linsey."  The  above  notice 
which  was  printed  in  poster  form  on  November  23,  1850, 
and  sent  to  sheriffs  over  the  country,  has  been  kept  in  the 
Gray  family  for  seventy-four  years.  It  was  received  by  B. 
S.  Gray  who  was  sheriff  of  Johnson  County  at  that  time  and 
the  father  of  our  fellow  townsman,  A.  J.  Gray.  James 
Gray,  a  grandson  loaned  the  above  article. 

An  old  lady  long  since  passed  on  told  this  story  of  one 
of  the  early  slaves  of  this  county  named  Nathe.  His  master 
regularly  gave  him  to  each  of  his  children,  when  married 
as  a  wedding  present,  but  he  was  so  incorrigible  except  by 
his  old  master  that  they  were  glad  to  return  him  to  the 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY  157 


father  in  a  short  while,  so  that  he  was  always  ready  to  be 
the  present  for  the  next  wedding  in  the  family. 

The  negroes  took  their  masters  name.  There  are  de- 
scendants of  these  early  slaves  named  Copeland,  living  near 
Belleville  and  in  Mound  City.  There  are  also  some  of  the 
colored  Whiteside  family  who  live  in  Pope  County.  There 
are  several  colored  families  living  in  the  county  at  the 
present  time,  some  of  them  very  good  farmers. 

We  have  only  a  few  colored  people  who  were  born  in 
slavery,  none  natives  of  this  county,  and  while  they  are  all 
getting  on  in  years,  they  are  independent  and  self-support- 
ing. These  few  are  Lee,  and  Aunt  Dolly  Smith,  Jennie 
Hessee,  Tobe,  Richard  and  Julia  Thomas,  Aunt  Huldy  Cole, 
and  Aunt  Ann  Worrells.  As  a  whole  the  colored  popula- 
tion of  this  county  is  above  the  average.  The  Aliens  who 
live  on  the  west  side  of  the  county,  S.  T.  Oliver,  William 
Lathem,  R.  Thomas  and  a  number  of  others  have  proved 
themselves  substantial  citizens. 

The  Wheeler  family,  colored,  came  here  from  the  south 
soon  after  the  Civil  War.  The  father  was  born  in  slavery, 
and  was  said  to  have  sold  at  one  time  for  $1,000,  owing  to 
his  strength  and  reliability  as  a  man.  He  raised  a  family 
that  any  father  could  be  proud  of.  One  son,  Green  Wheeler 
is  a  minister  living  in  Vienna,  a  reliable  and  well  respected 
citizen.  Another  son,  John,  graduated  from  a  medical  col- 
lege at  Nashville,  Tennessee  and  is  now  a  successful  phy- 
sician in  Chester,  Tennessee.  Another  son,  Henry,  is  prin- 
cipal of  the  colored  school  of  Fredertown,  Missouri  and 
Winnie,  the  only  daughter  is  married  and  living  in  May- 
field,  Kentucky. 

The  Murrell  family,  colored,  came  here  from  the  south 
several  years  after  the  war.  The  mother  and  father  were 
born  in  slavery,  and  possibly  two  of  the  older  children. 
Aunt  Ann  Murrell,  as  every  one  knew  her  was  kind  hearted 
as  any  woman  that  ever  lived  in  this  neighborhood.  There 
was  no  case  of  poverty  or  sickness  where  Aunt  Ann  would 
not  assist  to  the  very  best  of  her  ability,  and  in  many  cases 
she  would  go  to  their  relief  when  others  hesitated  on  ac- 
count of  conditions.  Aunt  Ann  and  Uncle  Pen  raised  a 
respectable  family  all  of  whom  are  doing  well.  One  son 
deserves  special  mention  as  he  has  educated  himself,  com- 


158  A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


pleting  the  High  School  in  Vienna,  taking  a  course  at  the 
University  of  Illinois,  and  finishing  at  a  Theological  School. 
He  is  now  a  prominent  minister  of  the  colored  Baptist 
Church  and  located  at  Quincy.  He  served  several  months  in 
France  as  a  Y.  M.  C.  A.  worker  during  the  World  War. 

The  Summer  family  coming  here  from  Pope  County 
were  another  very  reliable  colored  family,  but  they  have 
left  the  county. 

There  were  twenty-four  slaves  and  free  born  colored 
people  in  this  county  when  the  state  was  admitted  to  the 
Union.  Bogg's  says,  "slavery  was  not  entirely  eradicated 
from  Illinois  till  1848."  When  the  vote  was  taken  in  1824 
as  to  whether  Illinois  should  be  free  or  slave  Johnson  Coun- 
ty was  a  tie  vote,  74  for  and  74  against.  Buck,  a  historian 
of  Illinois,  speaking  of  the  first  constitutional  convention, 
1818,  says,  "In  Johnson  County  the  only  known  candidate 
who  was  not  elected  was  a  slave  holder  and  an  active  advo- 
cate of  slavery  in  Illinois.  He  was  said  to  have  been  beaten 
by  only  a  few  votes.    His  name  was  John  Copeland." 

We  have  had  very  few  colored  people  in  the  county  for 
a  number  of  years  until  1923,  when  many  have  come  from 
the  south  to  assist  in  the  new  industry  of  cotton  raising. 

LAWYERS 

There  have  been  so  many  prominent  lawyers  of  South- 
ern Illinois  who  practiced  in  our  courts,  that  it  seems  fit 
that  their  names  and  residence  be  given  as  far  as  possible. 
Under  the  first  judiciary  system,  territorial  judges  held 
courts  throughout  the  Illinois  territory.  The  prosecuting 
attorneys  for  the  people  were  appointed  and  traveled  the 
circuits  just  as  the  judges  did  until  1872  when  the  new  con- 
stitution was  adopted  and  the  office  of  States  Attorney 
established.  Kaskaskia,  Cahokia,  and  Belleville  seem  a  long 
way  to  come  to  practice  in  the  courts  of  Johnson  County, 
especially  when  the  fees  in  some  cases  were  only  two  dollars 
and  a  half,  but  Vienna  was  one  of  the  principal  courts  of 
the  territory. 

The  first  lawyer  on  record  was  William  Russell,  who 
began  to  practice  here  in  1813  and  continued  until  1833.  His 
residence  is  not  known,  but  he  probably  lived  in  Kentucky. 
Russell  E.  Heacock  began  about  the  same  time,  Moses,  an 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY  159 


historian  of  Illinois  says  he  came  to  St.  Clair  County  in 
1800.  He  later  moved  to  Jonesboro,  married  in  that  vicin- 
ity and  practiced  law  in  that  section  for  several  years.  He 
moved  then  to  New  York  City  and  later  to  Chicago.  An- 
other historian  says,  Heacock  had  a  law  office  in  the  village 
of  Chicago  in  1833. 

Elias  K.  Kane  whose  name  appears  frequently  in  the 
first  courts  was  a  resident  of  Kaskaskia.  He  served  as 
Secretary  of  State,  Member  of  the  General  Assembly,  was 
twice  elected  to  the  United  States  Senate  and  died  in  Wash- 
ington, D.  C,  during  his  last  term  of  office. 

Benjamin  T.  Hall,  Adolphus  T.  Hubbard  and  Robert 
McLaughlin  frequented  this  court  as  lawyers  from  1813 
till  1817.  William  Mears  was  our  District  Attorney  in 
1813.  He  continued  to  practice  here  till  1839  and  resided 
at  Cahokia,  moving  to  Belleville  when  the  county  seat  was 
changed  to  that  place  in  1814.  Davis,  McHenry  and 
Delaney  were  lawyers  here  as  early  as  1814  and  1815. 

Thomas  C.  Brown  settled  in  Shawneetown  in  1812.  He 
held  our  court  in  1813,  served  in  the  Territorial  Legislature 
also  as  District  Attorney.  "He  was  allowed  ten  dollars  for 
his  services  as  prosecuting  attorney  for  the  year  1816, 
agreeable  to  law/'  for  Johnson  County.  He  was  elected 
one  of  the  first  associate  judges  and  served  in  that  capacity 
thirty  years.  Joseph  Conway  was  another  who  attended 
the  courts  here  at  that  time;  he  resided  in  Kaskaskia  in 
1812  and  served  in  that  State  Legislature  as  a  senator. 
About  1819  the  name  of  Henry  Eddy  of  Shawneetown  is 
first  found  on  our  records.  His  name  continues  until  1848. 
He  edited  "The  Illinois  Emmigrant,"  published  at  Shawnee- 
town, the  second  paper  published  in  the  state.  He  served 
in  the  war  of  1812,  also  in  the  State  Legislature,  was  made 
circuit  judge  in  1835  and  was  a  Whig  in  politics.  A.  P. 
Field  lived  at  Jonesboro  and  practiced  in  Vienna  courts  in 
1823.  He  served  three  terms  in  the  General  Assembly,  also 
as  Secretary  of  State  in  1828.  Thomas  Reynolds  was  an- 
other attorney  of  this  time,  as  was  also  Nathaniel  Pope.  He 
was  the  first  Secretary  of  the  Territory  and  acted  as  gov- 
ernor until  the  arrival  of  Ninian  Edwards.  He  also  repre- 
sented the  territory  in  Congress  and  was  appointed  United 
States  Judge  for  Illinois  after  her  admission  as  a  state. 
Pope  County  was  named  in  his  honor. 


160  A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


Browner  and  Jason  Chamberlain  were  contemporaries 
of  Daniel  P.  Cook,  who  served  as  judge  of  the  western  cir- 
cuit of  Illinois,  also  as  Attorney  General  of  the  state,  and 
was  elected  to  Congress  several  times,  practiced  here  about 
1825-26.  Cook  County  took  its  name  from  Daniel  P.  Cook. 
Samuel  McRoberts  and  Johnathan  Ramsey  of  Hardin  Coun- 
ty, procured  licenses  to  practice  law  in  our  courts  in  1818. 
William  Sprigg  among  the  first  territorial  judges,  held 
court  here  in  1815  and  many  times  afterwards.  Richard 
M.  Young  was  a  resident  of  Kaskaskia  who  held  this  court 
in  1825  and  was  also  a  district  attorney.  Jeptha  Hardin 
was  an  early  resident  of  Shawneetown  and  was  made  a 
circuit  judge.  He  held  our  courts  and  attended  them  as  an 
attorney  about  twenty  years,  beginning  in  1819.  John  Mc- 
Lean was  another  of  Shawneetown's  famous  citizens.  He 
began  practice  here  in  1821.  McLean  was  elected  to  Con- 
gress one  term  and  served  many  years  in  the  State  Legis- 
lature, most  always  as  Speaker  in  the  General  Assembly. 
Dunn's  name  appears  in  1823  and  continues  on  the  records 
about  twelve  years.  James  Hall,  who  served  in  the  legis- 
lature was  a  jurist  and  author.  He  began  the  practice  of 
law  at  Shawneetown  in  1820  and  moved  later  to  Vandalia. 
He  had  cases  here  in  1823-24.  David  J.  Baker,  who  lived 
at  Alton,  began  practicing  in  our  courts  in  1824  and  was 
present  at  almost  every  term  for  about  twenty-five  years. 
He  was  the  father  of  Judge  David  J.  Baker,  Jr.,  of  Cairo, 
who  practiced  in  and  held  our  courts  as  circuit  judge  until 
1878,  when  he  was  elected  to  the  Supreme  bench. 

Sidney  Breese's  name  first  appears  on  the  court 
records  here  in  1825.  He  began  his  work  as  a  lawyer  with 
Elias  K.  Kane  at  Kaskaskia,  and  reached  a  very  high  place 
in  the  annals  of  our  state.  Thomas  Hoyne,  his  biographer, 
says  that  he  compiled  the  first  volume  of  law  reports  for 
the  state  and  this  was  the  first  book  printed  in  the  state. 
He  filled  the  office  of  circuit  attorney  for  the  third  judicial 
district,  was  a  member  of  the  General  Assembly,  United 
States  Senator,  Circuit  Judge,  Supreme  Judge  and  twice 
Chief  Justice  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  Illinois.  His  "Early 
History  of  Illinois"  is  considered  one  of  the  most  valuable 
of  its  period.  He  was  a  frequenter  of  our  courts  as  late 
as  1840,  holding  court  at  that  time. 

Thomas  Reynolds  and  W.  J.  Gatewood  who  were  resi- 
dents of  Shawneetown,  began  in  our  courts  in  1827.    Gate- 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY  161 

wood  continued  for  fifteen  or  twenty  years.  Richard  Ham- 
ilton attended  the  courts  in  1830.  Alexander  F.  Grant 
resided  in  Shawneetown,  practiced  in  Johnson  County 
courts  from  1831  until  his  election  as  judge  of  the  third 
judicial  district,  1835.  He  also  served  in  the  legislature. 
Walter  B.  Scates  conducted  cases  in  this  court  the  same 
year.  He  was  circuit  judge,  held  our  court  several  years 
and  was  later  elected  to  the  Supreme  bench.  John  Dough- 
erty of  Jonesboro,  came  as  an  attorney  in  1832.  He  repre- 
sented his  district  in  the  legislature,  served  as  lieutenant 
governor  and  was  later  elected  circuit  judge.  He  was  con- 
nected with  our  courts  almost  fifty  years.  H.  R.  Jones 
lived  at  Jonesboro,  practiced  here  in  1820.  Sander,  James 
Evans  and  Morrison  were  attorneys  here  about  1833.  S. 
D.  Marshall,  of  McLeansboro  was  also  of  this  period. 

John  M.  McClernand  was  a  resident  of  Shawneetown 
and  frequented  our  courts  for  several  years.  He  became  a 
very  conspicuous  figure  in  Southern  Illinois,  representing 
his  dictrict  several  times  in  the  State  Legislature,  served 
in  Congress  and  reached  the  grade  of  Lieutenant  Colonel 
of  the  forty-eighth  regiment  in  the  Civil  War.  A.  J.  Kuy- 
kendall,  a  native  of  Johnson  County  began  his  practice  in 
1840,  he  served  in  the  State  Senate  and  also  in  Congress. 
W.  H.  Stickney,  who  lived  in  Shawneetown,  Whitehead, 
Husbands,  W.  J.  Sloan  of  Golconda,  and  J.  M.  Davidge  of 
Pulaski  County  began  attending  this  court  about  1834; 
Richard  S.  Nelson,  H.  W.  Clement  in  1832.  The  name  of 
Allen  first  appears  on  the  attorney  list  in  1841.  One  would 
think  immediately  of  W.  J.  Allen,  but  this  was  Willis, 
father  of  W.  J.  Willis  continued  attendance  on  our  courts 
many  years,  frequently  having  cases  with  his  son,  W.  J., 
who  continued  his  practice  here  long  after  the  Civil  War. 
They  lived  at  Marion  where  W.  J.  Allen  was  elected  to 
Congress.  He  moved  to  Carbondale,  was  later  appointed 
Federal  Judge,  served  in  Springfield  in  that  capacity  until 
his  death.  H.  W.  Billings,  of  Cairo,  Caldwell  and  Cato 
were  others  practicing  here  about  the  forties.  Nelson  T. 
Hays,  Soloman  Waytt  and  Barlow  came  the  following  year 
with  Demming  of  Marion  as  circuit  judge.  LeRoy,  John- 
son and  Pierce  were  of  1846,  W.  H.  Hacker  of  Jonesboro 
and  L.  W.  Fern,  of  this  county  began  here  about  the  same 
time.  R.  P.  Corder  of  Marion,  M.  W.  Casey,  of  Mt.  Vernon 
were  also  attorneys  during  this  period. 


162  A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


Jeddiah  Jack  was  a  resident  and  practiced  law  in  the 
courts  of  Vienna  in  the  forties.  He  later  moved  to  Metro- 
polis and  was  appointed  to  defend  Decatur  Campbell,  a 
negro  living  in  that  county  in  1850,  and  the  defendant  in 
the  famous  Decatur  Campbell  case,  of  Massac.  In  this 
trial  before  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  state,  the  principle 
was  first  established  in  Illinois  that  a  person  is  justified  in 
defending  himself  in  cases  of  apparent,  as  well  as  real 
danger,  also  that  the  law  makes  no  distinction  as  to  color 
in  a  trial  for  murder,  found  in  Vol.  XVI,  Illinois  reports, 
page  sixteen. 

W.  K.  Parrish,  who  lived  at  Benton  and  later  at  Du- 
Quoin  began  his  visits  here  as  an  attorney  1851  and  con- 
tinued throughout  his  business  life.  William  Vaughn, 
Murry  and  Wallen  appear  as  lawyers  here  in  the  same  year. 
John  A.  Logan's  name  is  first  found  in  our  records  1852, 
this  was  before  he  became  the  General  of  Civil  War  fame, 
Member  of  Congress,  United  States  Senator  from  Illinois 
and  candidate  for  Vice-President.  He  had  cases  in  almost 
all  circuit  courts  here  until  the  Civil  War.  W.  J.  Allen  came 
a  little  earlier  perhaps,  but  they  were  law  partners  many 
years,  residing  in  Marion,  Illinois.  W.  W.  Clement  and 
George  W.  Young  were  also  Marion  lawyers  of  that  time. 
B.  0.  Jones  and  T.  H.  Smith  of  Metropolis,  who  was  another 
Civil  War  hero,  reaching  the  rank  of  Lieutenant  Colonel. 
Montgomery  and  McElvain  were  contemporaries  with 
Logan  and  Allen.  James  Pearson  and  Delevan  are  names 
appearing  about  this  time.  The  latter  part  of  the  fifties 
we  find  the  names  of  McKay,  W.  J.  Gibbs  of  Vienna ;  S.  D. 
Parks,  who  later  located  in  DuQuoin;  Monroe  C.  Crawford, 
of  Benton,  who  later  moved  to  Jonesboro  and  was  district 
attorney;  A.  D.  Duff,  Circuit  Judge,  later  of  Carbondale; 
W.  H.  Green  of  Metropolis,  who  afterwards  moved  to  Cairo ; 
H.  M.  Smith,  of  Caledonia,  Pulaski  County  and  H.  R.  Wise 
of  this  county  as  attorneys. 

John  A.  Thompson,  and  S.  G.  Simmons  of  Jonesboro, 
practiced  here  in  the  sixties,  also  John  R.  Thomas,  who 
was  a  resident  of  Metropolis,  and  later  served  as  Congress- 
man from  this  district  for  ten  years. 

The  following  are  lawyers  practicing  here  after  the 
Civil  War  and  up  until  the  present  time:  Marion  Young- 
blood  of  Benton  and  later  of  Carbondale,  John  C.  Mulkey, 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY  163 


of  Benton,  later  of  Metropolis,  who  was  elected  to  the  Su- 
preme bench  from  there;  S.  P.  Wheeler  and  D.  T.  Linegar 
were  also  of  Cairo.  T.  G.  C.  Davis  was  an  earlier  attorney 
(latter  part  of  the  forties)  who  lived  at  Metropolis,  and 
was  said  to  be  one  of  the  finest  looking  men  of  his  time  and 
a  wonderful  orator.  M.  J.  Inseore  of  Anna,  C.  K.  Davis, 
James  Gregg,  of  Harrisburg,  William  Parrish  and  his 
son,  John,  also  of  Harrisburg,  were  frequenters  of  our 
courts.  Some  members  of  our  own  bar  were  C.  N.  and  A. 
G.  Damron,  R.  M.  Fisher,  W.  A.  and  H.  A.  Spann,  T.  Chap- 
man, 0.  A.  Harker,  B.  F.  Olden,  John  T.  Allison,  T.  A. 
Stewart,  John  T.  Keith,  P.  T.  Chapman,  A.  K.  Vickers,  L. 
0.  Whitnel,  G.  B.  Gillespie,  D.  J.  and  J.  0.  Cowan,  0.  R. 
Morgan,  C.  J.  Huffman,  George  W.  English,  George  W. 
Ballance,  T.  H.  Sheridan,  W.  Y.  Smith,  John  B.  Bain  and  G. 
A.  Vunkirk. 

PHYSICANS 

The  first  physican  that  is  found  on  record  in  Johnson 
County  is  a  Dr.  Holt,  1815.  He  may  not  have  been  a  resi- 
dent of  this  county,  but  a  bill  of  his  is  found  filed  against 
an  estate  as  a  physican  that  was  settled  that  year.  Dr.  J.  D. 
Martin  is  another  of  that  period.  Dr.  Brooks,  who  lived 
in  Union  County,  also  practiced  here  in  1827.  Dr.  W.  J. 
Gibbs  came  here  in  1831.  Dr.  A.  B.  Moore,  1851.  Dr.  A. 
P.  Stewart  practiced  here  as  early  as  1845,  perhaps  earlier 
and  for  many  years  afterwards.  He  had  children,  Ann, 
who  married  Washington  Boyt,  Thomas,  who  was  a  farmer 
of  this  county  for  several  years,  Green,  who  was  a  printer 
and  another  son,  Smith. 

Dr.  Johnathan  Mulkey  came  to  this  county  from 
Williamson  sometime  in  the  fifties.  He  was  the  father  of 
Dr.  Phillip  D.,  who  married  Angeline  Brown,  settled  in  the 
western  part  of  the  county  in  1870,  followed  his  profession 
throughout  his  life  in  the  neighborhood  of  Cypress  and  Mt. 
Pisgah.  Other  children  of  Dr.  Johnathan  were,  Melissa, 
who  married  first  Asa  (see  Carter) ,  second  Andrew  Martin ; 
Martha,  married  Deam  West;  Malinda,  married  Alexander 
McClain;  Malvina,  married  Dr.  Thomas  Burris;  Margery, 
married  Frank  Bently;  Mary,  married  John  Beggs;  Alice, 
married  Mr.  Sailor ;  Monta,  married  Mr.  Williams ;  the  two 
latter  live  in  Colorado.  One  son  Robert  died  soon  after  the 
Civil  War  from  injuries  sustained  in  service  Samuel  C, 
married  Emma  Stone  and  removed  to  Union  County. 


164  A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


Dr.  T.  R.  Burris  was  a  son  of  Hiram  Burris,  a  farmer 
who  came  to  this  county  in  1851 ;  other  children  of  Hiram 
Burris  were  John  (2),  Martha  (2),  who  married  John 
Graves;  Stephen  (2)  married  Jane  Grissom,  had  children, 
Thomas  (3),  and  Pleasant  (3).  He  married  second  Mildred 
Stockdale  and  had  children  Edith  (3),  who  married  Robert 
Lough;  Mary  (3),  married  Adolphus  Mathis,  both  of  this 
county;  Albert  (3),  married  Eunice  Veach;  Fanny  (3), 
married  Alva  Pickens,  children,  Magdaline,  Josephine  and 
Marion;  married  second,  Edward  Mathis,  and  has  Daniel 
D;  Ethel  (3),  married  Dolphus  Alexander,  and  has  Orval, 
Ruth,  Jane;  Arthur  (3),  married  Meta  Miller;  Walter  (2), 
married  Martha  Pringle  and  had  Carrie,  who  married 
Basil  (See  Simpson.)  He  married  second  Mary  Dooley  and 
had  three  children.  Mary  (2),  married  William  (see  Chap- 
man) ;  Amanda  (2),  married  Adam  Harvick;  Elizabeth  (2) 
married  Mr.  Biddle;  Dr.  Elias  H.  (2) ,  married  Sarah  Camp- 
bell of  Kentucky,  and  had  Columbia  (3),  Don  (3)  and 
Daws  (3).  He  practiced  here  about  ten  years,  when  he  re- 
moved to  Kentucky  where  his  family  now  reside.  Dr.  T. 
R.  (2),  married  Malivna  Mulkey,  practiced. in  and  around 
Vienna  about  twenty-five  years  and  spent  his  last  days  on  a 
farm  one  mile  north  of  Vienna.  His  children  were  Frank 
J.  (3),  married  Ella  Lovlace  and  had  Frances  (4)  and 
others.  Dr.  Hiram  H.  (3),  married  Julia  Bridges,  they  had 
Nellie  (4),  Ward  (4)  and  removed  to  Union  County.  Cle- 
tus  G.  (3),  married  Mamie  Hershbealer;  Maude  (3),  mar- 
ried Richard  Hoague  and  had  Rubby  (4),  Thomas  (3),  mar- 
ried Edith  Glassford;  Bert  (3)  was  accidently  killed  by  an 
exposed  telephone  wire  about  ten  years  ago;  Elizabeth  (3), 
married  Ernest  Cates  and  has  Ernest  (4),  Glenda  (4),  and 
Howard  (4),  Mabel  (3),  married  Joe  Price  (see  Price); 
Myrtle  (3),  married  Ed.  Veach  and  has  Imy  (4),  Amy  (4), 
Graduate  physicans  practising  in  Johnson  County  in  1878 
were;  G.  W.  Elkins,  W.  A.  Looney,  L.  F.  Walker,  J.  M.  C. 
Damron,  N.  J.  Benson,  George  Bratton,  W.  R.  Mizell,  R.  M. 
McCall,  C.  N.  Whitnel,  Josiah  Whitnel,  R.  M.  Whitnel,  0. 
P.  Martin,  J.  J.  Walker,  L.  W.  Carlton,  and  W.  J.  Fern. 
Those  practicing  under  the  ten  year  law ;  L.  L.  Shadrick,  A. 
T.  Mobley. 

Dr.  Lewis  Mehlear  was  a  native  of  Germany,  acquiring 
his  profession  in  that  country.  He  located  in  Flatwoods, 
Simpson  Township,  about  1850  and  practiced  there  many 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY  165 

years.  All  that  is  known  of  his  family  is  that  he  had  a 
son  who  studied  medicine  and  located  in  Arkansas.  The  son 
returned  to  Simpson  in  1923  where  he  soon  died,  being 
approximately  75  years  old. 

Dr.  J.  H.  Norris  was  a  phsician  living  in  Vienna  and 
practicing  there  in  the  60's,  if  not  earlier.  He  was  a  faith- 
ful member  of  the  Methodist  church,  always  attending  the 
quarterly  conferences. 

Dr.  Dill  came  to  this  county  during  the  Civil  War, 
settled  and  practiced  in  Goreville  Township,  married  Mary 
(Burris)   Chapman. 

Dr.  James  Sullivan  was  a  native  of  this  county  who 
resided  in  Goreville  and  practiced  in  that  vicinity. 

Dr.  Cole  was  a  physician  of  Reynoldsburg  neighbor- 
hood, coming  there  soon  after  the  Civil  War. 

Dr.  Edward  Scarsdale  was  a  student  under  Dr.  C.  N. 
Whitnel  and  practiced  a  short  time  with  him.  in  Goreville. 

Dr.  Ballenger  came  to  this  county  about  1865,  he  re- 
sided and  practiced  in  the  Drake  neighborhood  in  Elvira 
Township. 

Dr.  L.  L.  Shadrick  was  a  native  of  and  practiced  in 
this  county  more  than  sixty  years  ago  in  the  neighborhood 
of  Mt.  Pisgah.  He  married  Elizabeth  Fisher  who  after  his 
death  married  W.  I.  Joiner,  a  Civil  War  veteran  and  a  busi- 
ness man  of  Vienna  many  years.  "Aunt  Betty"  as  she  is 
familiarly  known,  now  eighty-four  years  old  is  still  a  resi- 
dent of  Vienna. 

Dr.  W  .R.  Mizell  was  the  first  doctor  to  locate  in  New 
Burnside,  which  must  have  been  about  1873.  He  built  the 
second  residence  there  and  has  practiced  continuously  for 
more  than  fifty  years.  He  married  Miss  Thompson  and 
has  one  son,  Adolph,  who  is  a  physician  of  Shelbyville,  111. 

Dr.  N.  M.  Hudson  owned  a  drug  store  and  practiced 
medicine  in  Tunnel  Hill  for  a  short  time  in  the  early  seven- 
ties, but  later  removed  to  Harrisburg,  Illinois. 

Dr.  J.  F.  Blanchard  came  from  Pope  County  to  New 
Burnside  when  it  was  a  thriving  town  and  followed  his 
profession  there  for  several  years,  but  later  removed  to 
Creal  Springs,  Illinois,  where  he  still  resides.     He  married 


166  A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


Mary   Frizzel,   sister  to   Lewis,   of  this   county   and   had 
Bertha,  Vernell,  Norve  and  Verne. 

Dr.  H.  D.  LaRue  was  a  native  of  Kentucky.  He  came 
to  New  Burnside  and  practiced  medicine  about' twenty-five 
years  but  removed  from  the  county  several  years  ago.  He 
married  Bonnie  Trovillion,  of  Pope  County  and  has  a  son, 
Dr.  Claude,  who  practices  in  Boulder,  Colo.,  and  one  daugh- 
ter, Robbie,  who  married  Mr.  Robbs,  and  they  reside  in  Mt. 
Carmel,  Illinois. 

Dr.  M.  J.  Kerley  was  a  physican  in  Flatwood  neigh- 
borhood near  Simpson,  beginning  his  work  about  1886.  He 
was  the  ninth  son  of  Thomas  Kerley  and  the  Uncle  of  Dr. 
T.  B.  Kerley  of  Simpson. 

Dr.  Albert  McConnell  came  to  Simpson  neighborhood 
as  a  physican  about  1886,  where  he  continued  his  practice 
for  many  years.  His  son,  C.  A.  is  a  leading  physican  of 
Hot  Springs,  Arkansas. 

Dr.  J.  T.  Loney  is  a  native  of  this  county,  and  a  son 
of  Dr.  W.  A.  He  acquired  his  education  in  the  public 
schools  and  Southern  Illinois  Normal  and  also  graduated 
from  Rush  Medical  College,  Chicago.  He  was  appointed 
assistant  physican  at  Chester  prison,  but  later  settled  at 
Simpson  where  he  practiced  for  some  time  when  he  re- 
moved to  Vienna  continuing  his  work  there  for  several 
years.  He  removed  to  Tishomingo,  Oklahoma,  where  he 
follows  his  profession.     (For  family  see  Simpson.) 

Dr.  Asher  was  a  physician  of  New  Burnside  for  a  few 
years. 

Dr.  J.  H.  Simmons  was  a  son  of  Peter  Simmons  who 
came  from  North  Carolina  and  was  a  native  of  Simpson 
Township,  practicing  there  several  years  about  1888.  He 
removed  to  Vienna  and  with  Dr.  Joseph  Walker  engaged  in 
the  drug  business  for  a  short  time  when  he  removed  to 
Missouri  where  he  still  follows  his  profession.  He  married 
Nancy  Kerley  of  this  county. 

Dr.  I.  N.  Graves  is  a  native  of  this  county,  a  son  of 
Joshua  and  Katherine  (Stewart),  born  in  1849.  His  an- 
cestors were  among  the  first  settlers  of  the  county,  coming 
from  North  Carolina.  He  graduated  from  the  College  of 
Physicans  and  Surgeons  in  1889;  he  married  Maude  Rich- 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY  167 


ardson,  they  had  Rollo,  who  married  and  removed  from  the 
county;  Cora,  married  Charles  Stanley;  Zora,  married  Ray 
Bradley  and  has  Vivian  and  Gale  and  resides  in  Goreville; 
Mabel,  married  Frank  Stevens  and  has  one  child;  James, 
married  Helen  Coleman ;  Hazel  is  a  teacher  in  the  Goreville 
schools.  Dr.  Graves  has  been  a  resident  of  Gorville  for 
many  years ;  and  a  physician  for  fifty-five. 

Dr.  J.  J.  Fly  came  to  Goreville  about  1904  practicing 
there  about  fifteen  years,  when  he  moved  to  Herrin,  Illinois. 
He  maried  Elmiranda  Mcintosh  and  had  children,  Nettie, 
who  married  Newton  Lentz,  Carrie,  married  Zach  Hudgens, 
Bert,  married  J.  B.  Hudgens  and  had  Arbie,  Valjean,  Wii- 
helma,  Emma,  Jack  and  Kay ;  Emma  married  Roe  Hubbard, 
Whilhelma  married  Earl  Thornton,  has  Robert  T.  Eva  mar- 
ried Pat  Kelley;  Ethel  married  (first)  Tine  Huggins  and 
had  two  sons,  second  Mr.  Lentz;  Ralph,  married  Mary 
Grissom,  lives  in  Franklin  County;  Afton,  married  Mr. 
Johnson  and  lives  in  Herrin. 

Dr.  R.  A.  Cavitt  is  a  native  of  Tunnel  Hill  and  a  son 
of  Jackson  Cavitt.  He  graduated  from  the  College  of 
Physicans  and  Surgeons,  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  and  practiced  in 
his  home  community  a  few  years,  but  later  removed  to 
Morrison,  Oklahoma,  where  he  is  continuing  in  his  pro- 
fession. 

Dr.  A.  D.  Thornton  is  a  resident  physician  of  Gore- 
ville and  a  native  of  that  community.  He  is  a  son  of 
William  P.  and  Alice  (Calhoun)  Thornton,  and  married 
Fanie  Boles.  He  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of 
Goreville  and  acquired  his  profesional  education  at  the 
Chicago  College  of  Medical  Surgery,  graduating  in  1913. 
He  has  extensive  farming  interests  and  is  a  fancier  of 
thoroughbred  horses  and  registered  cattle. 

Dr.  Whittaker  and  Dr.  Hurst  owned  a  drug  store  in 
Goreville  and  practiced  there  several  years.  Dr.  Whit- 
taker married  Miss  Hurst,  a  sister  of  Dr.  Hurst.  Dr. 
Hurst  married  Ursula  daughter  of  Charles  Calhoun. 

Dr.  G.  K.  Farris  was  born  in  this  county  and  received 
his  elementary  education  here  and  later  graduated  from 
the  Medical  Department  of  St.  Louis  University.  He  be- 
gan practice  in  Vienna  in  1906  and  has  developed  extensive 
practice.     (For  family  see  Farris.) 


168  A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 

Dr.  Earl  Veach  is  a  native  of  this  county  and  received 
his  education  in  its  public  schools.  He  selected  medicine  as 
his  profession  and  graduated  from  the  St.  Louis  University 
School  of  Medicine  in  1915.  He  opened  an  office  in  Vienna 
where  he  enjoys  a  lucrative  practice. 

Dr.  William  Thompson  came  to  this  county  from  Ten- 
nessee in  1862.  He  was  an  M.  E.  minister  and  a  physican. 
He  settled  on  a  farm  east  of  Vienna,  now  owned  by  Frank- 
lin Marberry,  living  there  till  about  1874  when  he  moved 
to  the  villiage  of  Bloomfield,  continuing  his  work  as  a  phy- 
sician and  minister  fifteen  or  twenty  years.  Rev.  Fred  L. 
Thompson  (2),  was  his  son  and  had  been  licensed  to  preach 
in  the  M.  E.  church  before  his  father  came  to  this  county. 
He  married  Mary  Bruner  of  Metropolis.  Later  in  life  he 
became  quite  prominent  as  a  minister  of  the  Southern  Illi- 
nois M.  E.  Conference.  The  other  children  of  Dr.  Thomp- 
son were  Elizabeth  (2),  who  married  James  Williams,  they 
lived  for  a  while  in  Bloomfield,  later  moved  to  Missouri. 
Robert  (2),  married  Cynthia  Thomas,  of  this  county  and 
they  had  children  Effie  (3),  Mary  (3),  Theodocia  (3). 
J.  H.  (3),  lived  in  Simpson  Township.  He  married  first 
Mary  Cornish  and  they  had  William  (4),  (see  Physicans) 
J.  H.  (3),  married  second  (Mary  McKee)  Wormack  and 
had  Robert  (4),  Cletus  (4)  ;  Virginia  (3),  married  Jasper 
Mount,  they  had  Ella  (4),  Fred  (4),  Frank  (4),  Elizabeth 
(4),  Lily  (4),  Laura  (4),  Mable  (4),  Ella  (4),  married 
John  H.  Whiteside,  Frank  (4)  married  Nellie  Short,  Fred 
(4)  married  Luella  Rushing,  Elizabeth  (4)  married  J.  W. 
(see  Reynolds),  Lily  (4)  married  J.  S.  Galoway,  of  Herrin, 
Illinois,  Sophia  (4)  married  George  Williams,  Mable  mar- 
ried Mr.  St.  John,  of  Fort  Worth,  Texas. 

Dr.  William  Thompson,  a  son  of  J.  H.,  and  a  native 
of  this  county  is  a  graduate  of  the  Barnes  Medical  College, 
St.  Louis,  Mo.,  finishing  in  the  class  of  1909.  Dr.  William 
began  practice  in  Belknap  immediately  after  his  gradua- 
tion, continuing  there  till  1918,  when  he  enlisted  in  the 
World  War,  going  as  a  captain  to  France  in  1918,  and  serv- 
ing till  the  close  of  the  war.  In  1922  he  removed  to  Cypress 
where  he  enjoys  a  large  and  lucrative  practice.  He  married 
Bertha,  (see  Marberry.) 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY  169 


MILITIA 

In  1775  a  law  was  passed  by  the  delegates  of  the  coun- 
ties of  Virgina  as  follows,  "Each  company  of  infantry 
shall  consist  of  fifty-eight  riflmen,  one  captain,  two  lieuten- 
ants, one  ensign,  four  sergants,  four  corporals  and  a 
drummer."  As  Illinois  was  a  part  of  Virgina,  a  little  later 
the  law  prevailed  in  this  section.  "A  battallion  of  militia 
was  formed  in  that  part  of  Randolph  County  lying  on  the 
Ohio  River  in  1809/'  E.  J.  James  Territorial  Laws.  (This 
section  later  became  Johnson  County)  "An  order  was  issued 
by  the  Governor,  June  2,  1809,  to  hold  elections  in  these 
respective  companies  to  elect  persons  to  command  these 
companies."  Ihe  reason  for  organizing  these  companies 
of  militia,  no  doubt,  lay  in  the  fact  that  the  Indians 
in  Indiana,  Ohio  and  Illinois  had  become  troublesome 
and  frequent  depredations  were  inflicted  on  the  pioneer 
settlers.  Major  John  Worebeck  petitioned  congress 
in  1812,  to  raise  four  companies  of  mounted  trops  in  Illinois 
to  be  used  in  defense  of  the  frontier  settlements  against  the 
Indians.  In  1810  and  1812  there  were  a  series  of  massacres 
by  Indians  in  Illinois  territory.  In  1811  settlers  on  the 
Ohio  and  Mississippi  Rivers  manned  a  fort  which  had  been 
built  in  1804  on  Muddy  River  near  where  old  Fort  Massac 
trace  crosses  that  stream.  This  section  was  considered  an 
exposed  position-  and  many  people  moved  away  on  account 
of  fear  of  the  Indians.  In  1813,  two  families  were  killed  on 
Cache  River  about  where  Mound  City  is  now  located.  The 
following  was  the  territorial  law  under  which  the  militia 
companies  were  formed  for  protection  against  Indian  at- 
tacks. "All  free  white  inhabitants,  residents  of  the  state 
of  the  age  of  18  years  and  under  45,  except  as  herein  after 
excepted,  shall  be  enrolled  in  the  militia  by  the  commanding 
officer  of  the  company  within  whose  bounds  such  persons 
shall  reside,  within  ten  days  after  he  sjiall  be  informed  of 
such  residence  and  at  all  times,  therein  after,  in  like  manner 
shall  be  enrolled,  those  who  may  from  time  to  time  arrive 
at  the  age  of  eighteen  or  come  to  reside  in  the  district,  be- 
ing of  that  age  and  under  forty-five."  This  was  copied 
from  the  early  laws  passed  at  Vincennes  for  the  defense  of 
the  territory.  "The  governor  shall  provide  for  raising  com- 
panies of  grenadiers,  light  infantry,  riflemen  and  artillery 
agreeable  to  the  laws  of  the  United  States  at  his  discretion 
and  when  such  companies  are  raised  and  officered  shall  be 


170  A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


subject  to  the  laws  and  rules  of  the  United  States  and  of 
the  territory  as  any  other  militia."  June  26,  1811.  "All 
officers  shall  reside  in  the  respective  commands. "  The 
third  and  fourth  regiments  of  militia  were  formed  along 
the  Ohio  and  Wabash  Rivers  and  located  in  Johnson  and 
Gallatin  Counties.  The  following  are  some  of  the  appoint- 
ments in  the  militia  in  this  part  of  the  state  later  known  as 
Johnson  County:  January  10,  1810,  Hamlet  Furguson, 
William  Simpson,  Phillip  Trammell,  James  Ford,  William 
Alexander,  and  Absalom  Cox  were  appointed  captains  of 
militia  by  Goyernor  Edwards,  August  2,  1810,  Thomas 
Griffith  was  appointed  captain  in  the  third  regiment  of  the 
militia;  January  20,  1812,  the  governor  appointed  John 
Bradshaw,  captain,  Louis  McMillian,  John  Patterson  and 
Daniel  T.  Coleman,  lietutenants,  John  Tweedy,  Stephen 
Kuykendall,  Irvil  Borin,  ensigns  in  the  third  regiment; 
January  2,  1810  David  Anderson  was  appointed  adjutant 
of  the  militia  of  Randolph  County;  July  9,  1810  the  gover- 
nor appointed  William  Simpson,  Jr.,  ensign  in  the  third 
regiment;  September  24,  1814  John  F.  Smith,  Daniel  Cole- 
man, James  B.  Bailey,  and  William  Thornton  were  appoint- 
ed captains;  John  Harris,  Ebenzer  Kealough,  John 
Tweedy,  Stephen  Smith,  William  Huckam,  lietuenants, 
Nathan  Langston,  William  Johnson,  John  Whitiker,  Issac 
Borin,  William  Tripp,  John  Schultz,  ensigns  in  the  third 
militia  of  Johnson  County.  Joseph  Kuykendall  was  ap- 
pointed lieutenant,  George  Weir,  John  Ruft,  ensigns  and 
D.  T.  Coleman  Captain  in  the  third  regiment;  January  20, 
1812,  Owen  Evans  and  William  Simpson  were  appointed 
majors  in  the  third  regiment,  April  2,  1812,  James  Fox  and 
Rice  Sams  were  appointed  captains,  Martin  Harvick  and 
Vincent  Larkin,  lieutenants,  James  Simpson  and  William 
McFatridge,  ensigns  in  the  third  regiment;  June  15,  1815 
Thomas  Griffith  wa,s  appointed  major  and  Martin  Harvick 
a  captain  in  the  third  regiment;  August  4,  1815  William 
Richy,  James  Fisher,  James  Johnston  were  appointed  lieu- 
tenants, John  Fisher,  Robert  Miller,  ensigns  in  the  third 
regiment;  January  10,  1816  William  Hickman  was  ap- 
pointed captain,  William  Lindsey,  John  Whitiker  and  Will- 
iam McNorton  lieutenants,  R.  Davis,  Joseph  Perrin,  en- 
signs of  the  third  regiment;  June  the  3,  1818  Benjamin 
Means  was  appointed  captain,  Daniel  Coleman,  Vice  captain 
Allen  McKenzie  captain  and  vice  captain  J.  C.  Smith,  John 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY  171 


C.  Smith  promoted  to  major,  Thomas  Cox  and  John  Graves 
were  appointed  captains,  Joseph  Kuykendall,  William  Mc- 
Ginnis  and  William  Shelton,  lieutenants. 

All  the  officers  were  first  elected  by  the  militia  and 
then  appointed  by  the  Governor.  These  appointments  have 
been  compiled  from  the  territorial  records  by  E.  J.  James 
from  1809  to  1818.  William  Russell  was  allowed  one  dollar 
for  acting  as  clerk  of  the  election  for  militia  officers  in  1825. 
The  men  serving  in  the  militia  were  given  land  by  the 
government.  John  White  states  he  was  a  private  in  Cap- 
tain Joseph  Phillips  Company,  enlisted  May  6,  1814,  dis- 
charged August  21,  1815.  He  gave  George  Brazel  power 
of  attorney  for  him.    His  deed  is  recorded  in  Johnson. 

REVOLUTIONARY  WAR 

Johnson  County  was  so  far  away  and  so  new  that 
there  wrere  none  here  to  enlist  to  fight  for  the  freedom  of 
our  country  from  the  English.  But  a  number  who  had 
served  from  different  states  came  here  afterward  and  we 
have  many  descendants  of  Revolutionary  soldiers  now  liv- 
ing among  us.  Alexander  Beggs  was  a  Revolutionary 
soldier  and  at  one  time  a  resident  of  Union  County  and  he 
drew  a  pension  as  such.  His  widow,  Elizabeth  Beggs,  held 
certificate  No.  13,389,  dated  at  the  war  office  Washington, 

D.  C,  July  1833 ;  signed  by  John  Rabb,  acting  as  Secretary 
of  War.  Alexander  Beggs  died  in  1837.  The  court  of 
Johnson  County  ordered  the  clerk  to  certify  the  same  to 
August  for  paying  pension  at  Carmi,  State  of  Illinois. 

Mary  McMahan  was  certified  to  as  being  the  widow  of 
John  McMahan,  a  revolutionary  pensioner.  It  was  recom- 
mended by  the  court  of  Johnson  County  that  she  be  allowed 
a  pension  from  December  1823,  the  date  of  his  death,  till 
October,  1837.  The  court  certified  to  her  application  to  the 
war  department.  Hezekiah  West  stated  that  he  served  in 
1780  as  a  private  in  Captain  Frost's  company  of  Mounted 
Rangers,  in  Col.  WTinn's  regiment,  for  one  month  in  1781, 
in  Captain  Robert  Frost's  company  of  foot,  three  months; 
in  1782  in  Captain  John  McNeal's  company  of  Mounted 
Rangers,  in  Colonel  Davis  Hopkin's  regiment  three  months. 
He  was  allowed  a  pension  December  3,  1832,  at  which  time 
he  resided  in  Johnson  County,  Illinois. 


172  A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


Jacob  Harvick — From  sur.  File  No.  32,  289  Revolu- 
tionary War  Pension  office,  we  find  Jacob  Harvick  was  a 
resident  of  Surry  Co.,  North  Carolina  and  volunteered  as 
a  private,  early  in  1781,  under  Captain  Hulet  or  Hewitt,  in 
Colonel  Phillip's  regiment  and  served  three  months.  In 
the  fall  of  1781,  he  again  entered  the  service  as  private  in 
the  North  Carolina  line,  under  Captain  Charles  Gorden 
and  served  one  year.  He  was  allowed  a  pension  on  applica- 
tion executed  July  3rd,  1833  while  a  resident  of  Johnson 
County.  William  Wiggs  or  Weggs,  from  the  papers  in  the 
claim  Sur.  File  No.  32,608 ;  it  appears  that  Wm.  Wiggs  was 
born  in  Wayne  County,  North  Carolina,  about  1758.  He 
served  as  private  1775  for  thirty-five  days  in  Captain 
William  Fellows'  Company;  in  1779  for  five  months  under 
Captain  John  Canada,  and  in  1781  three  months  under 
Captain  Joseph  Sessions  and  was  in  the  battle  of  Guilford. 
He  was  allowed  a  pension  on  his  application  executed  April 
26,  1833  while  residing  in  Johnson  County,  Illinois.  Ran- 
dolph Lawson — In  the  rejected  claim  R.  6,  205;  it  appears 
that  Randolph  Lawson  was  born  in  Cumberland  County, 
North  Carolina,  in  the  fall  or  winter  of  1752,  and  while  liv- 
ing there,  volunteered  in  the  summer  of  1780,  under  Cap- 
tain Cox  or  Gholson  and  guarded  baggage  during  the  battle 
of  Camden,  also  he  again  volunteered  in  1781  under  Cap- 
tain Duck  or  Cox  and  guarded  baggage  during  the  battle  of 
Guilford,  and  that  he  did  not  actually  engage  in  either 
battle.  He  applied  for  pension,  executed  April,  1835,  while 
living  in  Johnson  County,  Illinois,  but  his  claim  was  re- 
jected as  he  did  not  furnish  sufficient  proof  of  six  months 
military  service  as  required  by  the  act  of  June  7th,  1832, 
under  which  he  applied.  His  children  are  referred  to  but 
their  names  are  not  given  and  that  of  his  wife  is  not  stated. 

Daniel  Chapman — In  the  Spring  of  1775,  he  volun- 
teered in  West  Chester  County,  New  York  for  the  nine 
months  under  Captain  Sackett,  who  joined  the  regiment  of 
Colonel  Thomas.  The  population  of  the  county  had  an  un- 
usual proportion  of  tories,  who  in  the  latter  part  of  1775. 
as  well  as  during  the  following  winter,  were  very  active 
and  aggressive  in  plundering  and  burning  the  buildings 
occupied  by  the  patriots,  to  prevent  these  depredations  he 
was  involved  in  a  number  of  skirmishes,  one  of  them  oc- 
curring at  New  Castle,  Westchester  County,  where  his  cap- 
tain was  taken  prisoner.    After  his  term  had  expired  he  was 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY  173 


detained  two  months  longer  before  he  received  his  dis- 
charge. In  the  spring  of  1776  he  again  volunteered  for 
nine  months  under  the  same  officer,  Captain  Sackett  having 
been  exchanged  and  was  employed  in  the  same  partisan  war 
fare  as  no  regular  British  troops  were  stationed  above  New 
York  City  until  after  it  was  occupied  by  the  enemy  Sep- 
tember 15,  1776.  A  Colonel  Holmes,  who  had  lived  in  Bed- 
ford had  joined  the  British  and  with  a  body  of  Tory  horse- 
men destroyed  the  buildings  in  that  town  except  his  own 
house. 

A  deserter  brought  the  information  that  Col.  Holmes 
was  coming  to  destroy  them.  To  prevent  this,  Chapman, 
with  a  party  of  forty-five  or  fifty  others  volunteered  under 
Lieutenant  Mosier.  His  party  was  surrounded  by  four 
times  its  number  of  Tory  horsemen,  yet  by  forming  a 
hollow  square  they  received  the  attack  at  the  point  of  their 
bayonets,  with  a  great  slaughter,  of  men  and  horses,  killing 
the  horse  of  Colonel  Holmes  and  badly  wounding  him.  The 
enemy  was  repulsed  by  the  patriots  without  the  loss  of  a 
man. 

Early  in  1777  Chapman,  being  well  acquainted  with 
the  country,  volunteered  as  a  scout  and  received  the  ap- 
pointment of  2nd  Sergeant  under  Colonel  Weisenfelt  in 
which  capacity  he  served  one  year ;  having  occasional  fights 
with  parties  of  the  enemy.  He  continued  with  Colonel 
Weisenfelt  until  the  main  army,  late  in  August,  1781, 
marched  south  to  meet  Cornwallis,  in  Virginia.  He  was 
in  conflicts  at  Dobbs  Ferry  where  there  was  a  small  fort, 
which  to  some  extent  prevented  the  enemy's  vessels  from 
passing  up  the  river. 

William  Copeland — Adjutant  General's  office,  Wash- 
ington, D.  C.  It  is  shown  by  the  records  of  this  office  that 
Wm.  Copeland  of  Virginia  served  as  a  private  in  Captain 
William  Smith's  company  11th.  Virginia  Regiment,  com- 
manded successively  by  Colonel  Daniel  Morgan,  Major 
Thomas  Snead,  Captain  William  Blackwell,  Captain  Charles 
Porterfield  and  Lieutenant  Colonel  John  Cropper,  Revolu- 
tionary war.  He  enlisted  November  23,  1776,  to  serve  dur- 
ing the  war,  was  promoted  to  Corporal,  in  December,  1776, 
transferred  about  November  1878  to  Captain  Charles 
Porterfield's  Company,  7th  Virginia  Regiment,  commanded 
by  Colonel  Daniel  Morgan  transferred  about  May  7,  1779 


174  A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 

to  Captain  John  Marshall's  company,  same  regiment,  and 
he  is  reported  on  the  company  muster  roll  for  November, 
1779,  dated  at  Camp  Morristown,  December  9,  1779  as  dis- 
charged. 

The  service  of  Copeland  and  Lawson  had  not  been 
established  at  the  time  the  Tablet  was  placed  in  the  Court 
Yard  at  Vienna  in  1919.  William  Copeland  is  buried  in 
this  county,  tradition  says,  on  the  Alfred  Hook  farm. 

John  Damron,  maternal  grandfather  of  Captain  Mark 
Whiteaker  was  a  pioneer  of  New  Burnside  Township,  this 
county  and  has  many  descendants  here.  Benj.  Gill  was  also 
a  Revolutionary  soldier  and  resided  in  Johnson  County. 
They  are  buried  in  Williamson  County  at  the  Drake  Ceme- 
tery, just  across  the  line  of  Johnson.  Their  graves  were 
marked  by  the  government  as  Revolutionary  Soldiers 
through  their  descendants  several  years  ago.  Daniel  Chap- 
man's grave  was  marked  as  a  Revolutionary  Solider  by  his 
family.  Jacob  Harvick  and  Hezekiah  West's  graves  were 
marked  by  the  Daniel  Chapman  Chapter  D.  A.  R.  of  Vienna. 

They  have  not  yet  been  able  to  locate  the  graves  of  the 
other  men  whose  revolutionary  services  have  been  estab- 
lished. 

WAR  OF  1812 

The  roster  of  1812  does  not  give  the  address  of  the 
soldiers  enrolled.  It  only  states  what  county  they  were 
from  and  in  most  cases  the  county  in  which  they  enlisted. 
The  following  names  have  been  selected  as  men  probably 
serving  from  Johnson  County  as  the  names  also  appear  on 
record  here:  James  N.  Fox  commanded  a  detachment  of 
rangers  on  the  frontier  of  Johnson  County  from  February 
13,  1813  till  March  1,  1813.  James  Fox  was  sergeant  in 
this  company.  The  privates  were  William  Edwards,  James 
Flannery,  Buckner  Harris,  James  Buchen,  George  Deason, 
Daniel  Griffith,  Moas  Blain,  John  F.  Norton,  Shadrock 
Rawlinson,  William  Rawlinson  and  John  Davis.  William 
Simpson,  father  of  J.  J.  Simpson  served  in  the  war  of  1812 
under  Captain  James  Whiteside.  James  Bradshaw  served 
in  Captain  John  Scotts  Company.  John  Worley  in  Captain 
Alexander's  company.  There  is  no  way  of  knowing  posi- 
tively, but  the  following  were  more  than  likely  men  who 
served  in  this  war  from  this  county :  Joseph  and  John  Fur- 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY  175 


guson,  Captain  Craig's  Company;  Jeremiah  Lissenbee, 
Captain  Henry  Cook's  Company,  Joshua  Talbot,  J.  B. 
Moore's  Company ;  William  Cravens  and  Elisha  Ladd,  Cap- 
tain Dudley  William's  Company;  Andrew  Roberts  and 
William  Brazel,  Captain  William  Jones'  Company;  Nathan 
Langston,  Captain  Nathan  Chamber's  Company. 

BLACK  HAWK  WAR  1831-32 

There  is  no  roster  of  Johnson  County  men  in  the  Adjut- 
ant General's  report  of  those  who  served  in  the  Black 
Hawk  War  and  no  address  except  the  county  in  which  they 
enlisted.  It  is  a  little  difficult  therefore  to  decide  just  who 
were  Johnson  County  men.  There  are  three  old  residents 
of  this  county  whom  it  is  certain  were  soldiers  in  this  war; 
Jason  B.  Smith,  Green  B.  Veach,  both  from  Pope  County 
and  Locklin  L.  Madden  given  in  an  independent  regiment. 
There  are  several  other  names  that  belong  to  early  families 
of  this  county  as  follows :  Barton  Scroggins,  John  J.  Dean, 
Joseph  Harper,  Pleasant  Rose,  James  B.  Kerley,  Milton 
Ladd,  George  Vancil,  Nathan  D.  Walker  and  George  W. 
Chapman. 

MEXICAN  WAR 

In  the  Adjutant  General's  report  the  names  of  the 
soldiers  who  served  from  this  county  in  the  Mexican  War 
were  recorded  but  their  address  is  not  given,  only  the  place 
of  enlistment,  consequently  it  is  only  possible  to  gather 
these  names  from  accidental  lists  and  old  people  and  many 
may  be  unintentionally  omitted. 

Mexican  Soldiers  and  widows  living  in  Goreville  Town- 
ship 1887 :  Daniel  Lingle,  E.  F.  Francis,  George  Black, 
Mathew  Bradley,  Mrs.  G.  W.  Gillespie,  Mrs.  James  Stone. 
Other  names  given  are  George  Pendergrass,  R.  C.  Miller, 
A.  Cover,  Mr.  Washer,  Joe  Thomas,  Jack  Smith,  Jason,  B. 
Smith,  Colonel  Samuel  Hess,  D.  C.  Chapman,  Blewitt  Bain, 
Joshua  Simpson,  James  Jackson,  John  Oliver,  Isaac  Bain, 
G.  W.  Chapman,  Green  B.  Veach,  James  B.  Murray,  Samuel 
Whitemore,  Elisha  Ladd,  B.  F.  Hayward,  Elisha  Axley, 
Larkin  and  Daniel  Simpson,  widows  Mrs.  Pack  and  Mrs. 
Short. 

SPANISH  WAR 

The  names  found  of  those  serving  from  this  county  in 
the  Spanish  War  of  1897  and  1898  were:  R.  F.  Thornsberry 


176  A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


Elder  W.  Cline,  W.  R.  Simpson,  Thomas  Clymer,  William 
Rebman,  Frank  Milligan,  A.  C.  Karaker,  Harry  Perkins, 
Moses  Halcomb,  Olus  Bailsen,  D.  Edward  Jones,  Carroll 
Webb,  William  Tiller,  Benjamin  H.  Shanklin;  Dempsy 
Summer,  Kit  Brayboy,  colored.  John  Beauman  of  this  coun- 
ty served  in  the  Signal  Corps  of  the  regular  army  in  this 
war,  and  died  of  yellow  fever.  He  is  buried  in  Arlington 
Cemetery,  Va.,  Adolphus  Worley,  a  Johnson  County  boy 
also  served  in  this  war,  enlisting  from  Texas.  William 
Donaghy  another  native  son  was  a  volunteer  in  this  war. 
His  place  of  enlistment  is  not  known. 

D.  J.  Cowan,  former  cadet  of  Southern  Illinois  Normal 
raised  a  company  here  to  serve  under  Colonel  J.  P.  Robarts, 
of  Mound  City.  D.  J.  Cowan  was  captain,  Charles  M. 
Ferris,  1st  Lieutenant,  W.  Y.  Davis,  2nd  Lieutenant,  but 
the  services  of  the  Colonel  or  the  company  were  not  needed 
in  this  war. 

CIVIL  WAR,  1861-65 

It  is  not  an  easy  task  to  search  out  the  names  of  the 
soldiers  of  this  war,  but  the  task  was  done  willingly  since 
our  obligation  to  those  old  and  now  fast  passing  veterans 
can  never  be  discharged.  We  want  to  revere  their  memory 
and  honor  those  who  are  still  among  us.  The  only  regret 
is,  that  by  mistake  some  of  the  names  may  be  omitted  in 
this  list.  There  were  1,678  men  subject  to  duty  in  Johnson 
County  in  1861.  They  were  scattered  in  different  regi- 
ments of  Infantry  in  the  following  companies  8th,  9th,  11th, 
18th,  20th,  29th,  31st,  48th,  56th,  60th,  65th.  72nd,  81st, 
88th,  90th,  91st,  109th,  110th,  120th,  123rd,  127th,  128th, 
136th,  and  145th;  Cavalry  1st,  5th,  6th,  9th,  13th,  14th, 
15th,  and  Battery  K  Light  Artillery.  Those  containing  the 
largest  number  of  men  were  the  31st  Regiment,  organized 
by  John  A.  Logan  and  composed  mostly  of  men  from  South- 
ern Illinois  except  companies  I  and  K.  They  were  mustered 
into  service  September  8,  1861.  Their  first  major  engage- 
ment was  at  Belmont ;  some  other  battles  were  Ft.  Donelson, 
Thompson's  Hill,  Champion  Hill,  many  skirmishes  and 
other  duties  falling  to  the  lot  of  the  soldier  whose  term  of 
service  was  as  long  as  theirs.  They  participated  in  the 
siege  of  Vicksburgh,  receiving  the  place  of  honor  at  its 
capitulation. 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY  177 


The  60th  was  organized  at  Anna,  February  17,  1862, 
engaged  in  the  Sieges  of  Corinth  and  Nashville,  battles  of 
Murfreesboro,  Chattanooga,  Buzzard  Roost,  Kennesaw 
Mountain,  Peachtree  Creek,  and  many  smaller  battles  and 
skirmishes.  They  participated  in  the  Grand  Review  at 
Washington,  D.  C.  The  120th  contained  more  men  than 
any  other  regiment  from  this  county  and  was  organized  by 
Colonel  John  G.  Hardy  of  Vienna.  It  was  composed  of 
companies  A,  B,  C,  E,  G,  I,  and  K.  They  went  into  camp 
at  Vienna  August  13,  1862  and  were  mustered  into  service 
the  following  October.  This  company  lost  many  men  dur- 
ing the  fall  and  winter  with  Small  Pox,  Measles  and  Pneu- 
monia. Their  campaign  was  waged  mainly  in  Tennessee 
and  Mississippi.  They  did  guard  duty  in  many  sections  of 
the  south,  also  taking  part  in  many  minor  battles  and 
skirmishes.  Many  of  their  men  served  long  terms  in  rebel 
prisons.     There  principal  battle  was  Guntown,  Miss. 

The  145th  was  mustered  in  at  Camp  Butler  and  be- 
longed to  what  was  known  as  the  100  day  men.  Illinois 
with  Ohio,  Indiana  and  Iowa  tendered  the  Government  a 
volunteer  force  of  85,000  men  to  relieve  the  veteran  soldiers 
of  guard  duty  at  Forts,  Arsenals  and  elsewhere  which  was 
so  necessary  now  that  the  government  had  control  of  so 
much  territory.  Illinois  furnished  thirteen  regiments  and 
two  battalions.  Governor  Yates,  among  other  things,  said 
of  these  men  "Our  regiments  under  this  call  performed  in- 
dispensible  and  invaluable  services  in  Kentucky,  Tennessee 
and  Missouri;  relieving  veteran  troops,  taking  part  in  the 
Atlanta  campaign  and  contributing  to  our  success  in  Vir- 
ginia, and  Georgia.  To  the  timely  organization  and  effici- 
ent service  of  the  100  day  men  we  owe  a  debt  of  gratitude." 

The  14th  Cavalry  was  recruited  and  organized  in  the 
fall  of  1862  with  head  quarters  at  Peoria,  equipped  in 
March,  1863  and  entered  active  service  in  the  following 
April  at  Celind,  Ky.  They  pursued  Morgan  on  his  raid  of 
2100  miles  until  he  was  captured,  taking  part  in  many  bat- 
tles and  skirmishes  on  this  flying  campaign.  They  partici- 
pated in  the  battle  of  Cumberland  Gap,  routed  the  enemy 
in  many  places,  capturing  men  and  supplies  in  the  east 
Tennessee  campaign.  The  Siege  of  Knoxville,  Bean  Sta- 
tion, Dandridge,  the  famous  Macon  raid  were  also  part  of 
their  duties.    After  the  surrender  of  Stoneman  at  the  bat- 


178 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


tie  of  Sunshine  Church,  the  cavalry  undertook  to  cut  their 
way  out  of  the  enemy's  country.  They  were  surprised  by 
the  enemy  after  seven  days  and  nights  in  the  saddle,  many 
were  captured  and  the  command  was  badly  demoralized. 
They  were  re-equiped  at  Waynesboro,  Ky.,  in  time  to  take 
part  in  the  battle  of  Nashville  and  assist  in  crushing  Hood's 
Army. 

CIVIL  WAR  SOLDIERS 


8th    Reg.,    Co.    I 

Hardy,  Thomas  G. 
Lucas,  John  E. 

8th    Reg.,    Co.    G 
Gamiel,  Samuel 

9th    Reg.,    Co.    G 
Beggs,  James  A. 
Beggs,  David 
Curcton,  James 
Cariker,  Daniel  A.  (k-62) 
Dubois,  W.  B. 
Edwards,  Allen 
Goie,  Joseph  P. 
Gore,  William 
Hartsell,  Simon  P. 
Jones,  William   (d-62) 
Lefler,  Geo.  F.   (d-61) 
McCord,  Wm.  F.   (d_61) 
Morgan,  Irwin  M. 
Pippins,  Wiley  H. 
Richardson,  David  J. 
Slavins,  Daniel  F. 
Stripling,  Amos  B. 
Tyler,  Daniel  (d-61) 
White,  Simeon  F. 
Wilhelm,  Jacob  (d-62) 
Wilhelm,   James    (k-62) 
Wise,  Lewis  Jr., 
Wise,  Granville  M.   (d-61) 

9th    Reg.,    Co.    K 
Cover,  Samuel  Q.  M. 
Emery,  John   (k-62) 

11th    Reg.    Co.    G. 
Axley,  George  W. 
Axley,  Uriah 


File,  Wm.  R.  (d-62) 

File,  Whitsen  B. 

File  Thos.  J.   (d-62) 

Martin,  Alexander 

Martin,  Washington   (d-62) 

Pool,  Jacob 

Martin,  Robert 

Smith,  James  G. 

West,  James   (d-61) 

Hardy,  Thos.  G.  (trsf.  8th  Reg.) 

12th    Reg.,  Co.   G. 
Wilson,  Wm.  N. 

18th    Reg.,   Co.    H 
Wilmoth,  Thomas 

18th    Reg.,   Co.    B 
Thompson,  Nathaniel 
Taylor,  William 

18th   Reg.,  Co.  C 
Ramey,  James  T. 

18th  Reg.,  Co.  G 
Babb,  David  W.  (d-62) 

18th   Reg.,  Co.   H 
Williams,  Jacob  H. 

20th   Reg.,  Co.  A 
Johnson,  Wm.  R. 
Holland.  James 
Mangin,    James 
McNeal,  Thomas 
Reno,  John 
Tool,  Michael 
Tool,  John 
Lambert,  William  (21st  Reg   un_ 

assigned) 
Lawson,  James    (d-63) 

29th  Reg.,  Co.  H 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


179 


Smith,  Wm.  T.,  1st  Sergt.  (k-63) 
Collins,  B.  K. ;  promoted  to  Capt. 
Cowan,  James  A. 
Perry,  Joseph  B. 
See,  Francis  M. 
Wells,  Henry  W. 

29th    Reg.,   Co.   I 
Brown,  G.  W. 
Climer,  John  H. 
Climer,  David   (k-62) 
Johnson,  Jackson 
Mosley,  A.  W. 
Manners,  John  H. 
Pippins,  Gilford 


Perrigan,  J.  H. 
Pickens,  B.  F. 
Roberts,  Albien 
Roberts,  T.  L. 
Roberts,  James  M.  (d-61) 
Mozley,  Alfred  W. 
Cambell,  Rufus  K. 
Hardison,  Wm. 
Helm  J.  D. 
Pippins,  Henry 
Throgmorton,  W.  P. 

29th    Reg.,  Co.  K.,  Unassigned 
Foster,  Erastus  D. 


Field  and  Staff  Officers  31st  Reg.  111.  Volunteer  Infantry 


Kuykendall,  A.  J.,  Major 
Kuykendall,  J.  B.  1st  Lieut.,  Co. 

B  Adjt. 
Thacker,  Francis  B.,  1st  Lieut., 

Co.  Adjt. 
Whitnel,  David  T.,  Surgeon 
Mount,  Newton,  Sergt.  Major 
Johnson,  Jasper,  Com.  Sergt. 

31st   Inf.,  Co.   D 
Casey,  Lvi  B.,  Capt.  (k-63) 
Sanders,  George  W.,  Capt. 
Mangum,  Howel  Y.,  1st  Lieut. 
Bridges,  James  J.,  2nd.  Lieut. 
Mount,  William  W.,  2nd  Lieut. 
Bridges,  James  M.,  2nd  Lieut. 
Coleman,  Thomas  F.,  Corp. 
Stone,  Robert  G.,  Corp.  (d-61) 
Sander,  Gideon  M.,  Corp.   (d-61) 
Dunsworth,  Joseph,  Music 
Wagoner,  Fredrick  Wise 
Bain,  Isaac,  Sergt.  (d-62) 
Wiley,  Abernaty 
Adams,  Joel  K. 
Burns,  Mathew  J. 
Crum,  John  S. 
Chapman,  William   (k-65) 
Barnett,  Casuell 


Chapman,  Lafayett 
Crum,  Aron  C. 
Cheek,  James 
Davis,  Jasper  N.   (k-63) 
Fisher,  John  R. 
Farmer,  James   (d-61) 
Harpending,  Hiram  G. 
Hester,  S.  W. 
Hamilton,  Hiram 
Harrel,  James  E.  (d_62) 
Hill,  Keenen  J.  (d-62) 
House,  Allen 
House,  Wm.  J. 
Honner,  Wm.  H. 
Irvin,  Geo.   (d-62) 
Ireland,  Milton 
Jackson,  Colby  (d-62) 
Kinslow,  Robert  N 
Kinslow,  John  A. 
Kinslow,  Wm.  J.  (k-61) 
Lovelace,  Bolen  (d-62) 
Lasley,  James  M.  (d-62) 
Mabury,  Robert  (d-62) 
Mangun,  Robert  F. 
Mangum,  Andrew  J. 
Mangum,  Thos.  S.   (d-62) 
McDonald,  Henry  S. 


180 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


Murray,  Thomas  J.   (k-61) 
McGowau,  James 
Newton,  Jesse 
Newton,  Barney 
Niblock,  W.  C. 
Pate,  Joseph  N.  (d-61) 
Perkins,  Henry  S. 
Pearce,  Cullen  T. 
Stone,  John 
Walker,  Francis  M. 
Wise,  Isaac 
Bellemy,  David  W. 
Brummitt,  Thos.  J.   (d-64) 
Gurley,  Hiram 
Ragan,  Richard 
Scarlet,  Abraham  (k-64) 
Siebman,  Isaac  D. 
Towler,  John  W. 
Cambell,  Nathan 
Elkins,  Alvey,  H. 
Elkins,  Neezbert 
Hill,  James  K.  P. 
House,  Elcana 
Hays,  William 
Lasley,  Frances  M. 
Mead,  David  H. 
McGee,  John 
Oliver,  Johu 
Ragan,  Samuel 
Riddle,  James 
Simpson,  James  A. 
Shamburg  Fredrick 
Sanders,  Ross 
Turley,  Wm.  S. 
Waters,  John  H.  (d-64) 

31st    Reg.,    Co.    F 
Richardson,  James  F.,  Sergt. 
Burton,  Wm.  L.,  Sergt. 
Meadows,  James,  Corp.  (m) 
Lambert,  Wm. 
Burch,  Joseph   (d-62) 
Burton,  Andrew  J. 
Burton,  James  G.  (d-62) 


Bowyer,  Wm.  R. 
Brown,  James  W. 
Cambell,  Martin  V.   (d-62) 
Cambell,  James  T. 
Doughtery,  Stephen 
Dupoister,   Hiram    (d-63) 
Francis,  Joel  W. 
Gray,  Fielden  M.   (m) 
Horsely,  Roland  (d-63) 
Hobbs,  James  H. 
Hobbs,  Burgess  J. 
Hutson,  Geo.  W. 
Jenkins,  Nathan 
Lawrence,  Wm.  (k-61) 
Lawlis,  Benj.  H.  (d-62) 
Lawlis,  Archie  B. 
Melahan,  Joseph  J. 
McGowan,  W.  J. 
May,  Bryant 
May,  Geo.  W.,  Sergt. 
May,  Andrew  J. 
May,  John 
Newton,  Isaac  J. 
O'Donnell,  Aron 
Oliver,  John 
Pierce,  David  G. 
Price,  Joshua 
Renner,  Joseph  A. 
Snider,  Bentom 
Simpson,  Lewis  G. 
Simpson,  James   (d-62) 
Simpson,  Stephen  J. 
Simmons,  Wiley   (d-62) 
Satterfield,  Jesse  (d-63) 
Thomas,  Josiah  A.  (d-62) 
Thomas,  Henry  H. 
Underwood,  Moses  L. 
Vanclave,  Wm.  R. 
Webb,  Isaac  M. 
Willhelm,   Daniel 
Weaver,   Jasper 
Weaver,  John 
Bowyer,  William  R. 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


181 


Calhoun,  Joseph  J. 
Francis,  Joel  W.,  Corp. 
Fuston,  Geo.  W.,  Sergt. 
Branscombe,   Edmund    (d-63) 
Calhoun,  Joseph  J. 
Gariott,  Thomas  N. 
Clemson,  Aron  B. 
Holmes,  John 
Lemmens,  Chas.  H. 
Simmons,  James  W. 
Thomas,  Joseph  H.  (k-64) 
Veach,  John  K. 

31st.   Reg.,  Co.  G 
Jarvis,  James  M. 

31st    Reg.,   Co.    H 
McCormack,  Thos.  J. 
Adams,   Geo.   W. 
Foster,  Wm. 
Jones,  Wm.  (d-64) 
Lamison,  Peter  L.  (d-62) 
Wormack,  Jesse 
Black,  Geo.  W. 
Tayler,   John  V.,  unassigned 
Rose,  Wiley  A.,  Rejected 
Newton,  Issac 

48th    Reg.,   Co.    F 
Starks,  Reuben  C. 
All,  John   (d-62) 
Cariker,  Julius 
Dunn,  Wm.  S. 
Groves,  Ephriam  G. 
Mathews,  James   (d-61) 
Sexton,  Henry    (d-62) 
Sperry,  John  A. 
Sperry,  Hiram 
Starks,  Robert  M. 
Starks,  Hamilton  C. 
Sexton,  James  C. 
Thompson,  Wm.  M. 
Veach,  Pleasant 
Veach,  Allen  (k-62) 

53rd    Reg.,   Co.   A 
Yarnell,  John  F. 


54th    Reg.,   Co.   C 
Carter,  Marcus 
Ramsey,  Joshua 

56th    Reg.,   Co.    D 
Hallowell,  Dr.  A.  (d-64) 
Hallowell,  C.  B. 

McGee,  Christopher  C,  1st  Lieut 
Axley,  Terry,  1st  Sergt. 
Peeler,  Jacob  C,  Corp. 
Botts,  Alfred  D.    (d-64) 
Boyd,  Robert  J. 
Bradford,  Leroy 
Cariker,  Israel 
Hunter,  Geo.  W. 
Kannup,  Caleb   (d-64) 
Norval,  Saml.  H. 
Penrod,  Wm. 
Skelton,  Alfred 
Strange,  Archilus  A.,  Corp. 
Richeson,  John  L. 
Smith,  Wm.  J. 
Cariker,  Daniel  A.,  Sergt. 
Adams,  Wesley,  Sergt. 
Corzine,  Robinson  C. 
Madden,  Lockwood  L. 
Ragsdale,  Elijah  L. 
Ragsdale,  Crawford  A. 
Rice,  Thos.  G. 
Butler,  Thomas  A. 
Gibson,  Wm.  A. 
Jennett,  John  C. 

56th    Reg.,  Co.   H 
Day,  Martin 

56th    Reg.,  Co.    K 
Meredith,  James  B. 

60th   Reg.  Officers 
George  W.  Evans,  Colonel 
Samuel  Hess,  Lieut.  Colonel 
Toler  John  W.  Q.  M.  Sergt. 

60th  III.  Co.  C. 
Green,  Richmond  F.,  Hosp.  Stew 
Browning,  James  W. 
Reynolds,  Elisha  E. 


182 


A. HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


Robertson,  Stephen  W. 
Vaughn,  James  H. 
Vaughn,  David 
Vaughn,  Wm.  R. 
Vaughn,  Henry,  J. 

60th    Reg.,   Co.   E 
Boyt,  Elisha  T. 

Copeland,  James  P.,  2nd.  Lieut. 
Coleman,  Wm.   M. 
Claxton,  Jeremiah 
Craig,  Leander  W.  (d-62) 
Davis,  Martin 
Davis,  James 
Dun,  Boswell 
Eads,  John  P. 
Fisher,  Obadiah 
Goddard,    Ruel 
Fogarity,  Stephen 
Hutson,  L.  D. 
Lawrence,  Belfield 
Minton,  William 
Shanks,  James  W. 
Smith,  Thos.  J.  Musician 
Smith,  Samuel  B.  (d-62) 
Lee,  John  J. 
Smiley,  Benj.  F.  (d-62) 
Shoemaker,  John  D. 
Blake,  John  H.   (k-64) 
Dunn,  Roswell 
Dunn,  W.  J.  (d-64) 
Henson,  Fredrick  E. 
Boswell,  Geo.  W. 

60th    Reg.,   Co.   G 
Penrod,  Rayford 
Evans,  Thos.,  Corp. 

60th    Reg.,  Co.   H 
McKee,  Joseph  F. 
Green,  Richard  F. 
Vancleve,  Volney 
Allen,  James  H. 
Bost,  John   (d-62) 
Canady,  Wm.  M. 
Caraker,  Abraham 
Carter,  Wm.  T. 


Dunn,  Shadock 

Evans,   Thomas 

Evans,  Wilson 

Hazel,  Samuel 

Jones,  Perry 

Johnson,  Charles   (d-62) 

Lee,  John  J. 

Mathis,  Henry,   (d-62) 

Toombs,  James  W. 

Vandusen,  James  E.  (d_62) 

Wilkey,  John  W. 

WTharton,  James 

Workman,  James  M.  (d-62) 

Worrell,  William 

Jones,  A.  B. 

Stewart,  Thos.  A. 

Ussery,  John  J. 

Gaskell,  Daniel  W. 

McFarland,  Henry  C. 

McWilliams,  David  C. 

Wharton,  Jasper 

Modglin,  Wm.  M. 

60th    Reg.,    Co.    I 
Gore,  John  F. 
Utley,  James,  H. 
Blackshaw,  Robert 
Clayton,  Hamilton  M. 
Coleman,  Charles 
Deans,  John  (d-62) 
Darck,  John  F. 
Nally,  Geo.  E. 
Peterson,  W.  H. 

60th    Reg.,   Co.   K 
Goddard,  Wm.  C,  Capt. 
Miller,  Lyman  A.,  Capt. 
Benson,  James  M.,  1st  Lieut. 
Bridges,  John  S.,  1st  Lieut. 
Hardy,  Henry  B.,  1st  Lieut 
Collins,  F.  M.,  2nd  Lieut. 
Carter,  John  M.,  Sergt. 
Richards,  John,  Sergt. 
Cole,  James  M.  Sergt.  (k-64) 
Simpson,  Wm.,  Sergt. 
Webb,  Wm.  R.,  Corp. 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


183 


Buzard,  John,  Corp. 
Stewart,  Thos.  A. 
Whitehead,  John,  Corp. 
Boyt,  Felix  A.  Corp. 
Cryder,  Thos.,  Music 
Johnson,  John  C. 
Anderson,  John 
Bridges,  Joseph 
Bowman,  William 
Harris,  Jesse  F.   (d-61) 
Bellemy,  Jesse  E. 
Carter,  Wm.  T.  (d-62) 
Carter,  Asa  W. 
Carter,  Amos  M. 
Casey,  Hiram 
Carter,  James  H. 
Crabtree,  W.  N. 
Criedr,  Alton  P. 
Carter,  Edmond   D. 
Carr,  David  N. 
Caraker,  Israel 
Dixon,  Joseph  F. 
Davis,  W.   W. 
Evans,  Wm.   (d-6.) 
Evans,  Geo.  W. 
Evans,  Thos. 
Erwin,  James  M. 
Francis,  Wm.  F. 
Fairless,  Richard 
Gore,  John  L. 
Gore,  Jefferson  J. 
Gold,  Geo.  W.    (d-62) 
Gore,  Duncan  L.   (d-62) 
Goddard,  John  L. 
Hogg,  James,  H.   (d-62) 
Hamilton,  Henry 
Henly,  Hezekiah 
Hartshell,  John  V 
Huggins,  W.   N. 
Hacker,  James  W. 
Henry,  Isaac 
Ivy,  Wm.  H. 
Joy,  Wm.  H. 
Chapman,  Leonidas 


Jordan,  Wm.  D.   (d-64) 
Jobe,  Samuel   (d_64) 
Jobe,  Mathew  J. 
Jones,  Peter 
McMahan,  Peter 
McMahan,  Franklin  (k-64) 
McWherter,  Wm.  N.  (d-62) 
McCarver,  James 
Moore,  Granville 
Neely,  George 
Pearce,  Isaac  N. 
Peterson,  Wm.  W. 
Pearce,  James 
Perry,  Gaston  F. 
Ryle,  Joseph  G. 
Russell,  Joseph 
Richardson,   Davis   J. 
Simmons,  Samuel  H# 
Simmons,  Daniel  C. 
Sutliff,  John  B. 
Sutliff,  Abel 
Stewart,   Richard 
Stone,  Barton  W.  (d-62) 
Spradley,  Jesse  B. 
Taylor,  Wm.  H. 
Vaughn,  James 
Webb,  James  (d-62) 
Webb,  A.  N. 
Woodward,  James 
Wright,  Wm.  H. 
Wright,  Charles 
Wiley,  H.  B. 
Walton,  Ira  B. 
Huggins,  Wm.  N# 
Anderson,  Geo.  W. 
Anderson,   John 
Ausbourn,  John  M. 
Bridges,  Joseph 
Bridges,  Alfred 
Cowden,  Geo.  W.   (d-65) 
Davis,  William  W. 
Huggins,  Wm.  H. 
Huggins,  Ephriam  (d-64) 
Hacker,  Joseph  F.   (d-64) 


184 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


Moran,  Wm.  B. 
Hull,  Nimrod  H. 
Goodall,  Wm.  H. 
Nickols,  Frank 
Nickols,  John  W. 
Smith,  Wm.  H. 
Carter,  James  R. 

65th    Reg.,  Co.   G 
Haywood,  Geo.,  Corp. 

Co.   D   Consolidated 
Cayler,  Chas.  C. 
Freeman,  Lesley  A. 
Ingram,  Pitts 
Moraitt,  Aaron,  unassigned 

72nd   Reg.,  Co.   D 
Renne,  Geo.  C,  Musican 
Broderick,  James 
Curran,  Wm#  G. 
Hinchman,  Daniel 
Hines,  Harmon  (k-63) 
Kane,  Edwin 
McMurry,  James  W. 
Grant,  Theodore  B. 
Newport,  David  M. 
Williamson,  Geo.   S. 
Watson,  Joseph 

81st   Reg.,   Co.    H 
Westbrooks,  Nathan 
Westbrooks,  Richard 

88th    Reg.,    Co.    D 
Hinchman,  David 
Jones,  Ellis 

90th    Reg.,  Co.   D 
Renne,  Horace 

91st   Reg.,   Co.   D 
Sharp,   Wallace 

109th   Reg.,  Co.  D 
Hubbard,  W.  J. 
Farmer,  Hiram 
Perry,  Newton  J.,  Corp. 
Gordon,  W.  C,  Corp. 
Barnes,   Samuel   E. 
Bryant,  John  W. 
Buchanan,  David 


Buchanan,  Wm. 
Brown,  Hezekiah 
Bailey,  Andrew  J. 
Crane,  Benj. 
Cox,  Luther  B. 
Cathey,  Robert 
Durham,  John  W. 
Durham,  Wm.  T. 
Demsey,  James  M.   (d-63) 
Edmonds,  Daniel  L. 
Frazier,  Wm.  G. 
Griffin,  Aron 
Gordon,  James  W. 
Hileman,  Thomas 
Hileman,  Christian  M. 
Hunsaker,  Samuel  T#  (d-63) 
Hubbard,  Samuel 
Humphreys,  Henry  B. 
Hanna,  Wm.  S. 
Harwood,  Elias  C. 
Johnson,  Joseph  H. 
Modglin,  James  B. 
Malier,  John 
Morris,  Elihu 
Pender,  John  C. 
Perry,  Crezie 
Rigges,  Nelson 
Ragan,  John 
Scoggin,  R.  F. 
Smith,  James  C.  W. 
Smith,  Thomas 
Smith,  James  P. 
Smith,  Albert  H. 
Sullivan,  Geo.  W. 
Tackett,  Wm.  L.  (d-63) 
Treese,  Wash. 
Wilmouth,  Lucien 
Wilmouth,  Joseph 
Willford,  Jesse 
Rose,  M. 

109th  Reg.,  Co.  H. 
Jones,  Amos  Y. 
Klutts,  Davis 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


185 


109th  Reg.,  Co.  I 
Clark,  Joseph  H. 
Hartman,  Jesse 
Klutts,  Henry 
Klutts,  Daniel 
Miller,  Fountain 
Mason,  Nathan  H. 
Still,  Wm. 
Still,  Green  B. 
Wilhelm,  George  L. 
Beggs,  Wm.  W. 
Culver,  Franklin  H. 
Casper,  Monroe  G. 
Jackson,  John 
Keistler,  Jacob  W. 
Mise,  John  R.   (d-63) 
Peeler,  Jacob  E. 
Peterson,  John  M. 
Strieker,  John 
Strieker,  George 
Wilhelm,  George 
Wilhelm,   Moses 

110th   Reg.,  Co.  A 
Williams,  Marion 

110th   Reg.,  Co.  C 
Kennedy,  James  A. 
Lee  Richard 
Lamaster,  Geo.  W. 
Mandrel,  Geo.  W. 
Mandrel,  Nathaniel 
Mandrel,  Wm< 
Madrel,  Soleman 
Morow,  Geo.  W. 
Morow,  Joseph 
McElroy,  Wm. 
Moak,  Geo.  W. 
Murphy,  John 
Molifield,  Geo.  W. 
Mathias,  Archibald 
Norman,  Jasper  N. 
Parks,  Wm.  A. 
Payne,  Daniel 
Peeples,  James  D.  (d-63) 
Pritchett,  David  M. 


120th    Reg.,  Officers 
Field  and   Staff 

Hardy,  John  G.,  Lieut.  Col. 

Simpson,  Lewis  J.,  Chaplain 

Grant,  Geo.  W.,  Sergt. 

Hawk,  Andrew  J.,  Sergt.    (d-63) 

Garden,  Samuel,  Sergt. 

120th   Reg.,  Co.  A 

Modglin,  James,  W.  E. 

Modglin,  Joseph  E. 

Modglin,  Wm.  T\ 

120th  Reg.,  Co.  B. 

Sexton,  Burton,  Capt. 

Mozley,  John  F.,  Capt. 

Scroggins,  Samuel  W.,  2nd  Lieut 

Reid,  James  B.,  2nd  Lieut. 

Bain,  Henry  W.,  Sergt. 

English,  Abasalom,  Sergt. 

Pendell,  Manuel,  Sergt.   (d-63) 

Wilson,  James  R.  Corp. 

Bain,  Chas.  A.,  Lieut. 

Scroggins,  Oliver,  Corp. 

Mullinax,  Henry,  Corp. 

Guinn,  Geo.  W.,  Corp. 

Hedges,  Wm.,  Corp.   (d-63) 

Davidson,  Josiah  F.,  Corp. 
Dunn,  James  H. 
Beaver,  Samuel 
Crider,  Franklin  H. 
Crider,  Daniel  E.   (d-62) 
Campbell,  Wm.   P.    (d-63) 
Casper,  John  F. 
Carrington,  Geo.  W. 
Cline,  John  B. 
Downing,  Cullen  (d-63) 
Davidson,  Newton  M.  (d-64) 
Roundtree.  W.  M. 
Robert,  Lewis  J. 
Reed,  James  H. 
Rentfro,  Wm.  M.  (d-63) 
Starks,  Reuben  J. 
Stanton,  James  F. 
Stanton,  John  W. 
Smith,  Reuben  J.  (d-63) 


186 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


Serrells,  John 
Sexton,  Wiley 
Tripp,  John   (d-63) 
Throgmorton,  Robert  R. 
Vickers,  Pleasant 
Wilson,  Wm.  S. 
Watson,  Thos. 
Wood,  John  (k-64) 
Walker,  Wm.  F. 
Wymore,  James  A. 
Woods,  John  S. 
Young,  John  D. 

Recruits 
Arnold,    Sidney 
Bracken,  Robert  W. 
Bracken,  Geo.  R. 
Black  Quincy  A. 
Cross,  Allen  J. 
Clendenen,  Benj.   (d-63) 
Davidson,  Chas.  T. 
Davis,  James 
Denny,  Wm.  S. 
Decker,  Jackson 
Davidson,   Samuel   T. 
English,  Manuel  C. 
Farris,  James  F. 
Fry,  Benj. 
Francis,  Michael 
Gallant,  Michael 
Golden,  Eugene  S. 
Gorden,  Wm.  B. 
Goodsen,  Wm.  S. 
Green,  Johnathan  B. 
Haynie,  Geo.  W. 
Hickman,  John  L. 
Hurt,  James 
Hume,  Joel  G. 
Helm,  Marion  W. 
Kelly,  Thornton  A. 
Karr,  Morris  B. 
Ludhem,  Geo.  G. 
McHenry,  James  H. 
Morgan,  Benj.  P. 
Rentfro,  Rufus  J. 


Robertson,  Geo.   O. 
Strode,  Geo.  W# 
Smith,  Joseph 
Swearingen,  J.  W. 
Sedge,  Wm. 

Throgmorton,  James  W. 
Thompson,  James 
Trent,  John  B. 
Treadway,  Daniel  G. 
Treadway,  Marion 
Uriston,  Stephen  L. 
Wynes,  Alexander 
Wynes,  Geo.  W.   (d-65) 
Wynes,  Henry 
Wilson,  Rufus  G. 
Youngman,  Martin  L. 

120th   Reg.,  Co.  C 
Axley,  Uriah,  Capt. 
Clark,  Owen  H.,  Capt. 
Dubois,  Joel,  1st  Lieut. 
West,  Joshua  P.,  1st  Lieut. 
Hahs,  Wm.i  2nd.  Lieut. 
Cambell,  James  T.,  Sergt. 
Adams,  John  W. 
Dunsworth,  Harrison  E.,  Sergt. 
West,  Asa,  Corp.   (d-63) 
Shadrack,  John,   Corp. 
Munnell,  Parson,  Corp 
Axley,  James,  Corp.   (d-63) 
Newton,  Joseph  N.  (d_63) 
Mercer,  Wm.,  Corp. 
Hunter,  John,  Corp. 
Bridges,  John  S.,  Corp. 
Hamilton,  John 
Peterson,  Owen  G. 
Tharp,  John  P. 
Axley,  Andre  J. 
Allen,  Wm.  C. 
Adams,  Jesse  T. 
Bean,  Thomas 
Bradshaw,  Rix  C.  (d-64) 
Baldwin,  Thomas 
Bishop,  Benj.  T. 
Beggs,  Alfred  (d-63) 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


187 


Boast,  Caleb 
Caraker,  Wm.  M. 
Caraker,  Chas.  (m-64) 
Carter,  Wm.  L.  (d-63) 
Carter,   James 
Carter,  Thomas  (d-63) 
Edwards,  Hugh  H. 
Ellis,  Rueben  I.  (d-63) 
Ellis,  Jesse  L. 
Fain,  Jesse  M. 
Green,  James  C.  (d-63) 
Gillespie,  Felix  H.  (d-62) 
Hunter,  Alexander   (d-63) 
Nubert,  Chas. 
Hogg,  Thos.  H. 
Hahas,  Joseph   (d-64) 
Huston,  Wm.  W. 
Jones,  John  L. 
Jones,  Wm.  J. 
Jones,  Calvin 
Klutts,  David  (d-63) 
Kerr,  Henry 
Latham,  Wm. 
Mercer,  Hezekiah  W. 
Mercer,  Francis  M. 
Morehead,  Wm.  L. 
Martin,  Wm.   (d-63) 
Martin,  Andrew  J. 
Wartin,  Wm.  J. 
Nickens,  James  W. 
Pruett,  Allen   (d-63) 
Paine,  James  J. 
Pickler,  John   (k-64) 
Pickens,  John   (k-64) 
Stokes,  Wm. 
Spinks,  Geo.  W.    (d-63) 
Smith,  Wm.  H.  H. 
Smith,  James  A. 
Spicer,  Chas. 
Xyler,  James  T. 
Tyler,  Geo.  A. 
Tyler,  Henry 
Turner,  Geo.  W. 
Turner,  Lewis    (d-63) 


Ussery,  Wm. 
Weaver,  Andrew  J. 
Whitehead,  A.  J. 
Whitemore,  Samuel  M.  (d-63) 
Warrick,   Lazarus,  W. 
Tubbs,  Henry  W. 
Ellis,  Thos.  H. 

120    Reg.,    Co.    E 
Bagley,  Henry  C. 
Reagen,  Eli 

120th   Reg.,  Co.  F. 
Escue,  Wm.  (d-63) 

120th  Reg.,  Co.  G. 
Whiteaker,  Mark,  Capt. 
Ballance,  James  H.,  2nd  Lieut. 
Fairless,  Wiley  K. 
Whiteaker,  John  A.,  2nd  Lieut. 
Choat,  Nicholas,  1st  Lieut. 
Lambert,  James  E.,  Corp. 
Gill,  John  C,  Corp. 
Williams,  John  W. 
Bundren,  James  L.  (d-63) 
Bundren,  Wm.  W.  (d-63) 
Bowles,  Elijah  P.  (d-63) 
Culbertson,  John  T.   (d-63) 
Colbroth,  Jackson 
Fairless,  Wiley  R. 
Foster,  Christropher 
Gill,  Stephen   (d-62) 
Hewit,  John 
Lundy,  Richard  P. 
Larrison,  James  B. 
Lambard,  John   (d-63) 
McDaniel,  David  W# 
McFarland,  J.  (d-62) 
Newton,  Job  S. 
Parton,  Geo.  W.    (d-63) 
Parton,  Joseph  B.  (d-63; 
Parton,  James  C. 
Russell,  Francis  M. 
Upchurch,  David  C. 
Vaughn,  David  H.   (d-63) 
Wise,  Mathew  F. 
Wheeler,  Thos. 


188 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


Powell,  Wm.  R. 
Riggs,  James 
Rogers,  James 
Russell,  Benj. 
Smith,  John  I. 
Smith,  John  Q. 
Smith,  Joseph 
Struble,  Chauncy  J. 

120th    Reg.,  Co.   I 
Bridges,  James  J.,  Capt. 
Gillespie,  James  B.,  Capt. 
Gibbs,  John  A.  M.,  Capt. 
Rose,  James  E.,  1st  Lieut. 
Hendry,  James  M.,  1st  Lieut. 
Henry,  A.  J.,  2nd.  Lieut. 
Utley,  James  M.,  2nd  Lieut. 
Hogg,  Wm.  A.,  Sergt.   (d-63) 
Grissom,  P.  G.,  Sergt. 
Burris,  Stephen  B.,  Sergt. 
Arnett,  James  H.,  Sergt. 
Mathias,  John,   Corp.,    (d-63) 
Barnett,  Gilbert,  Corp. 
Scott,  Jefferson  J.,  Corp. 
Chapman,  Wm.  H.,  Corp.   (d-64) 
Bridges,  John  D.,  Corp. 
Utley,  Thos.  J.,  Corp. 
Simpson,  Lewis  D.,  Corp.   (d-63) 
Hunter,  Wm.  H.,  Musician 
Mize,  Joseph  G. 
Holt,  Lycurgus  C. 
Anderson,  Green  H. 
Barnett,  John  L.  (d-64) 
Brumett,  Jesse  L. 
Brown,  Peter 
Baucum,  H.  Wm. 
Benson,  Chas.  B.  (d-65) 
Bowles,  Daniel  R. 
Bowman,  John  S. 
Boaz,  Elisha  P. 
Burgess,  Henry  (d-62) 
Caraker,  Jacob  (d-63) 
Davis,   Alexander   M. 
Darter,  Nicholas  (d-63) 
Edmonds,  James  H.,  Corp  (d-63) 


Eubanks,  Geo.  W. 
Fisher,  James  J. 
Fairless,  Henry  L. 
Fairless,  Wm.  R.   (d-63) 
Francis,  Edmund  L.   (d-63) 
Francis,  Benj.  F. 
Francis,  James  T. 
Goddard,  Jourdan 
Grissom,  Wm.   H.    (d-63) 
Gordon,  John  W. 
Groves,  John  A. 
Gordon,  Samuel 
Henry,  Chas.  M.   (d-63) 
Hunter,  Issac 
Houcher,  Robert   (d-64) 
Henner,  Preston 
Honner,  Daniel  A.  (k_64) 
Hogg,  John  L. 
Howell,  Thomas 
Howell,  Henry  C. 
Howell,  Samuel  W. 
Hahs,  Robert 
Hill,  Joseph  B. 
Hawk,  Andrew  J.   C. 
Johnson,  Thomas  J.   (d-63) 
Jobe,  Alexander  G. 
Jennett,  Wm.  A. 
Kirly,  Woodson  B.  (d-64) 
Kerr,  Israel 
Lasley,  Wm.   H.    (d-63( 
Lavender,  Chas.  H. 
Martin,  Joel  H. 
McDaniel,  Wm.  M. 
MU11,  Jacob  (d-63) 
Morris,  James  F. 
Morris,  John  F. 
Mount,  Jasper 
Newton,  Doarse  B. 
Oakley,  John 
Oakly,   Henry 
Priston,  Wm. 
Pickel,  Wm.  H.   (d-63) 
Rebman,  Jacob 
Rebman,  Andrew   (d-63) 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


189 


Shearer,  James  M. 
Slack,  Norman  J. 
Simpson,  Daniel 
Venable,  John 
Warren,  Wm.  M. 
Wilson,  Admore   (d-62) 
Warner,  James  W.  (d-63) 
Brown,  Wm.  G.   (d-62) 
Warren,  Wm.  M. 
Wilson,  Admire  (d-62) 
Warner,  James  N.   (d-63) 
Brown,  W.  G.  (d-62) 
Buskerk,  John  W. 
Burnier,  Joseph 
Fagen,  William  A. 
Hogg,   Thos.   H. 
Hickory,  Michael 
Hooker,  Henry 
Hubbard,  Chas. 
Larison,  James  B. 
Lemery,  David  L. 
Moore,  William  C. 
Manley,  James 
Nichols,  Reuben 
Pettis,  Martin 
Pearce,  Marion 
Pullen,  George  W# 
Page,  Willard 
Stinegen,  Fredrick 
Thrisher,  Geo.  W. 
Veyvett,  Benj. 
Whitney,  Wm.  C. 
Wilson,  Samuel  A. 
Wiley,  Pembroke  (d-63) 

120th   Reg.,  Co.  K 
Parks,  Samuel  G.,  Capt. 
Benson,  John  F.,  1st  Lieut. 

(d-63) 
Jones,  Francies  M.,  1st  Lieut. 
Damron,  Chas.  N.,  2nd  Lieut. 
Gray,  Ivy  R.,  2nd  Lieut. 
Carter,  James  H.,  2nd  Lieut. 
Thompson,  James  P.,  Sergt. 
McDaniel,  Lewis  E  ,  Sergt. 


Wilson,  Thos.  J.,  Corp. 

Jones,  Daniel 

Jones,  John  J.,  Corp.   (d-63) 

Saddler,  Wm.  J.,  Corp. 

Sullens,  Martin  V.,  Corp.   (d.65) 

Yandell,  Joseph  H.,  Corp. 

Boozer,  Henry  M.,  Corp. 

Hatfield,  Moses,  Corp. 

Hardy,  John 

Kincy,  Henry  Y. 

Rodgers,  Wm. 

Boozer,  John 

Boozer,  Hillery  J. 

Beggs,  Moses  W.   (d-62) 

Barnwell,  John  C. 

Carter,  John 

Carter,  Samuel  M. 

Cambell,   Wm.    (d-62) 

Cambell,  Eli  (d-63) 

Cook,  Christropher  H. 

Cagle,  James  H. 

Cranfil,  Chas.  A. 

Canedy,  Arnold 

Choat,  Benj.  (d-63) 

Dyson,  Thomas    (d-63) 

Durham,  Thos.    (d-64) 

Edmonson,   Isaac   G. 

Ford,  John 

Grant,  Geo.  W. 

House,  Peyton  S. 

Harrell,  Geo.  W.   (d-64) 

Hines,  John  W. 

Hines,  Samuel 

Hood,  John  W. 

Harper,   Lincoln 

Jenkins,  Wm.  P.  C. 

Jones,  David 

Jones,  Leroy 

Kerley,  Mites  A.   (d-62) 

Lasley,  Geo.  W. 

Leslie,  Geo. 

Long,  Jasper 

May,  Bryant 

May,  Joseph 


190 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


Mitchell,  John  T.    (d-63) 
McCuan,  Jacob 
McCuan,  Woodson  S. 
Moore,  John  A# 
Odum,  James  A.  W.  (d-63) 
Odum,  Henry 
O'Neal,  Wm. 
Osborn,  Wm.  P.    (d.62) 
Penrod,  Wm. 
Pea,  Wm. 
Rushing,  Wm.  M. 
Rushing,  Ephriam  B. 
Rushing,  Wm.  L.   (d-63) 
Rodgers,  John  W. 
Rainbolt,  James   C. 
Rainbolt,  Jacob  M. 
Sutliff,  Hugh 
Simmons,  John  C# 
Simpson,  Lewis  J. 
Sharp,  James  F. 
Showin,  Joseph  (d-63) 
Stennett,  Edward 
Silleven,  Franklin 
Shelton,  Wm.   L. 
Snider,  Samuel  P. 
Turner,  Barney  S. 
Turner,  Wm.  C.  (d-63) 
Veach,  Abijah  J.   (d-63) 
Veal,  Newton  J.  (d-63) 
Wadkins,  Wm.  A.   (d-63) 
Wadkins,  David  J. 
Whelis,  Turner  (d-63) 
West,  Henry  D.   (d-64) 
West,  James  A.   (d-63) 
Wilburn,  Archer   (d-62) 
Yandell,  Nathan  J#,  Corp. 
Adir,  Wm.  S. 
Bull,  Asa 
Burns,  Edward 
Baker,  James  C. 
Belenford,  C.  M. 
Caraker,  David  S.   (d-64) 

127th   Reg.  Officers,  Co.  D 
Lindsy,  Wm.  J.,  Sergt.  Maj. 


Barber,  Robert  C,  Capt.  (d-63) 

Finch,  Wm.,  Corp. 

Atwood,  Royal  E. 

Barber,  Samuel  J. 

Barner,  Samuel  N. 

Denman,  John  M. 

Fellingham,  Geo.,  Jr. 

Denman,  John 

Harrison,  Lyman  T. 

Hines,  Wm.  F. 

Lindsey,  Wm.,  Jr. 

Lindsy,  Wm.  D.  (d-63) 

Phillips,  Sheldon  S.  (d_63) 

McCuann,  Hugh 

Siflet,  Geo.  T. 

Smith,  Joseph  E.  H. 

Tildon,  Lucius  H. 

Weldon,  Thomas 

Willis,  James  E. 

128th   Reg.  Co.  C 
Robinson,  Marcus  L.,  Sergt. 
Binum,  Wm.  Y. 
Baty,  Benj. 
Camden,  Marble  D. 
Henderson,  James 
Peterman,  Benj. 
Peterman,  George 
Peterman,  Wm. 
Roberts,  Samuel 
Rushing,  Nathan  J. 

128th    Reg.,  Co.   E 
Enos,  James,   Musician 
Reese,  Barnett  B. 
Trammell,  Millo 
Watson,  James 

128th   Reg.,  Co.  F 
Akers,  Joseph 
Burns,  Harry  L. 
Burris,  H.  D. 
Bayles,  David 
Birdwell,  John  H. 
Camden,  Wm.  M. 
Camden,  Geo.  W. 
McBride,  Jesse 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


191 


Mercle,  F.  T. 
McCaba,  James 
Nichols,  Coleman 
Wise,  Robert  H. 
Rushing,  Malcom 
Rushing,  Coleman 

128th    Reg.,  Co.  G 
Adams,  G.  W. 
Adams,  Hugh 
Jackson,  A.  M. 
Malaer,  Wm. 
Monk,  Josiah 
Stephens,  Milton 

128th   Reg.,  Co.  H 
Doughtery,  E.  M.,  Musician 

128th    Reg.,   Co.    I 
Hall,  Wiley  M.,  2nd  Lieut. 
Sullivan,  Geo.  P.,  Sergt. 
Stephens,  W.  J.,  Corp. 
Edmonson,  T.  A.,  Corp. 
Fonda,  G.  W.,  Corp. 
Birdwell,  Moses  F. 
Burns,  T.  G. 
Cagle,  B.  F. 
Crowell,  Wm.  T. 
Jack,  John  A. 
Koonce,  W.  R. 
Kelly,  Alfred 
McCurtney,   Brison 
Parish,  B.  F. 
Stephens,  Francis,  M. 
Stroud,  John  P. 
Stephens,  Columbus  J. 
Sullivan,  James  J. 
Sullivan,  John  W. 
Stroud,   J.    C. 
Taylor,  Issac  G. 
Williams,  John 
Washburn,  F.  M. 
Wilson,  Joseph 
Wise,  Curtis  P. 
Thwde,  Geo.  H. 

128th   Reg.,  Co.   K 
Carson,  Carroll 


136th   Reg.,  Co.  B 
Bramale,  Robert  A. 
Cheek,  Elijah  T. 
Eastwood,  Wm.  P. 
Gorden,  W.  D. 
Hill,  Thos. 
Tripp,  Wm. 
Jones,  James  M.,  1st  Sergt. 

145th   Reg.,  Co.  A 
Daniels,  Martin  V.,  1st  Lieut. 
Watson,  John  D.,  Sergt. 
Worley,  Wm.  W.,  Sergt. 
Slack,  Wilford,   Sergt. 
Hendry,  Benj.  B.,  Sergt. 
Mathis,   John   B.,   Corp. 
Eadler,  Wm.  J.,  Corp. 
Crumb,  Wm.,  Corp. 
Burris,  D.  L.,  Corp. 
Ridenhour,  Otto  L.,  Corp. 
Granthum,  Uriah,  Corp. 
Howell,  Daniel  M.,  Corp. 
McCarver,  James  H. 
Austin,  Levi 
Anderson,  Uriah  I. 
Anderson,  Thos.  J. 
Austin,  Wm.  J. 
Ambern,   Henry  M. 
Bynum,    Geo. 
Bowen,  Green 
Bridges,  Alva  N.  M. 
Burns,  Joseph  N. 
Burges,  Joseph 

145th   Reg.,  Co.  A 
Brown,  Henry  B. 
Bradley,  John  H. 
Bradshaw,  James  M. 
Clay,  James 
Cagal,  James  H. 
Craig,  Carroll  C. 
Carter,  John  B. 
Coleman,  George  D. 
Charocter,  Paul 
Carler,  Thos.  J. 
Daughtery,  Elijah  E. 


192 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


Dunn,  John  D. 
Dunn,  Hugh  R. 
Eccles,  David 
Farris,   Wm.   H. 
Fisher,  Obidiah 
Curley,  Wm. 
Gray,  Pinckney 
Gray,   Samuel  M. 
Gillespie,  Samuel 
Hoftman,  John  J. 
Howell,  Joseph  M. 
Hall,  Frank  H. 
Hester,  John  C. 
Hill,   George  M. 
Henderson,  Giles  V. 
Hill,  Kage  T. 
Jackson,  Wm.  H. 
Jeffery,  Elmore  D. 
Johnson,  Green 
Jones,  Stansbury  C.  E. 
Keith,  Thos.  E. 
Kerr,   John 
Kendle,  George  H. 
Lovelace,  George 
Logan,   Preston 
McGowan,  Samuel 
Moore,  Chas.  M. 
Malaer,  Thos. 
Mathis,  Henry  V. 
Mathis,  Geo.  W. 
Morris,  Edward  W. 
Peterson,  Wm.  E. 
Russell,  James 
Richard,  James  M. 
Rhodes,  Anson 
Smith,  Joseph  A. 
Sanders,  John  D. 
Smith,  Thos.  W. 
Starks,  Anderson  J. 
Southerland,  Joseph 
Sullivan,  Marcellus 
Smith,  Anderson  J. 
Stewart,  Smith  W. 
Staton,  Joseph 


Smith,  Elbert  L. 
Skaggs,  Jordon  O. 
Taylor,  Joseph  H. 
Taylor,   Samuel   M. 
Venable,  John  L. 
Venable,  Franklin 
Veach,  Pleasant  G. 
Wymore,  Milton 
Wise,  Thomas  J. 
Wise,  Lewis 
Wyatte,  Franklin  M. 
Walker,  George 

1st  Cavalry,  Co.  H 
Chapman,  Henry  Q.  M.,  Serge. 
Albert,  Wm.  C. 
Betts,  Thomas  A. 
Brown,  Sanders  B. 
Benson,  John  F. 
Carter,  James  H. 
Claybourn,  Wm.  D. 
Claybourn,  James  H. 
Edwards,  Hugh  H. 
Granthem,  Uriah 
Molman,  Andrew 
Hutchins,  Thos.  W. 
Huston,  James  J. 
Hardy,  Thos.  C. 
Hardy,  John  G. 
Lisle,  Robert  E. 
Mathis,  Wm.  M. 
Mathis,  James  F. 
McLean,  Alex 
Padgett,  Geo.  W. 
Ralls,  John 
Sanders,  Wm. 
Slack,  Gilson 
Whitehead,  Chas.  F. 
Wilson,  Thos.  J. 
Axley,  Terry 
Axley,  Spencer 
Amasom,  Eliel 
Covington,  Garland 
Capot,  John 
Casey,  Ira  V. 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


193 


Copeland,  John  M. 
Peters,  James 

5th    Cavalary 
Sexton,  Henry  W.,  unassigned 

6th   Cavalry,   Co.   A 
Cambell,  John  D. 
Smith,  George  L. 

6th  Cavalry,  Co.  B 
Morray,  James  B.,  Capt. 
Peterson,  Wm.  B.,  Capt. 
Fite,  John  C,  1st  Lieut. 
Lawrence,  Lemuel  L.,  2nd  Lieut. 
Lawrence,  Benj.  F.,  1st  Sergt. 
Fountain,  Lay,  Q.  M.  Sergt. 
Wise,  Hiram  H.,  Sergt. 
Bratton,  Isaac,  Sergt. 
Clark,  James  M.,  Sergt. 
Robinson,  Hugh  P.,  Sergt  (d-64) 
Jackson,  Ivy,  Corp. 
Wormack,  John  W.  D.,  Corp. 
Latta,  John,  Corp. 
Simpson,  Joshua,   Corp. 
Maeders,  Charles  S.,  Corp. 
Reagen,  Hiram,  Corp. 
Murphy,  Mathew  J. 
Ramey,  Joshua  H.,  Corp-  (d-64) 
Chapman,  Geo.  W. 
Shaw,  Cornelius 
Angel,  James  H. 
Boozer,  Geo.  W. 
Bratten,  Henry 
Bonner,  Robert  H. 
Clenden,  James  C.  (k-64) 
Clendenen,  Thos.  J.  (d-64) 
Choat,  George  W. 
Choat,  Wm.  C.    (d-64) 
Choat,  Andrew  J. 
Colbaugh,  Carrell  H.  (d-64) 
Dotson,  Robert,  B.  (d-64) 
Handley,  Richard  A. 
Grant,  Thos.  J. 
Harris,  Robert  J. 
Jones,  James  G.  J. 
Jones,  David  L. 


Lay,  Levi  A. 
Mounce,  Wm.  R.  (d_64) 
Mabary,  Wm. 
O'Neal,  George 
Perry,  George  (d-63) 
Robinson,  John 
Reagan,  John 
Reagon,  Josiah  F. 
Soloman,  Thos.  J. 
Smith,  James  H. 
Smith,  John  W. 
Tapley,  Wm.  H. 
Warren,  Starling  L. 
Laney,  Joseph,  Bugler 
Ross,  John  C. 
Sullivan,  Madison  L. 
Snyder,  James  R. 
Colbaugh,  James  F. 
Handley,  Samuel  E. 
Ice,  James  W. 
Lawrence,  Thos.  M. 
Murphy,  James  F. 
Smith,  David  J.  (d-64) 
Albert,  Wm. 
Bixbie,  Wm.  R. 
Johnson,  John  A. 
Jackson,  James  K.  P. 
Leroy,  Abraham 
Lambert,  James 
Lay,.F.  M. 
Maberry,  Wm. 
Mangham,  Geo.  W.  (d-64) 
Maberry,   Fredrick    (d-65) 
McCoy,  John 
McGowan,  Francis  M. 
Sullivan,  Geo.  W. 
Morray,  Joseph  B. 
Veach,  John  K. 
Williams,   Geo.   W. 
Wooten,  Edward  E. 

6th  Cavalry,  Co.  F 
Clifton,  John  W. 

6th  Cavalry,  Co.  G 
Glass,  Andrew 


194 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


6th  Cavalry,  Co.  K 
Darnell,  Allen 
Gray,  A.  J. 
Holmes,   Cyrus   E. 

6th  Cavalry,  Co.  M 
Chapman,  Joseph 
Dorris,  Thos 
Davis,  Wm. 
Dorrell,  James 
Henderson,  Elijah 
Henderson,  Gillis  V. 
Craner,  Andrew 
Clark,  Wm.  (d-65) 
Gold,  Wm.  W. 
Jenkins,  James 
Mozley,  James 
Russell,  Robert  P. 
Farrar,  John  H. 
Foster,  Elijah 
Henson,  Henry 
Tulaert,  Samuel 
Veach,  Abijh 

9th  Cavalry,  Co.  B 
Rebman,  John  A. 
Wright,  Squire 

9th    Cavalry,    Co.    F 
Bevard,  Robert 
Endsby,  Henry 
Kelvery,  Daniel 
Pulley,  Reuben 
Warner,  Judson  R. 

13th    Cavalry,    Co.    F 
Dempsy,  Arthur 

Henshaw   Battery 
Glenn,  James 
Whybron,  John  (d-62) 

13th  Cavalry,  Co.  M 
Brown,  John   (d-64) 
Anderson,  James  M.,  Corp. 
Anderson,  Francis  M.    (d-64) 
Grissom,  Elbert  W. 
Holcomb,  Stephen 


Perrigan,  Wm.  M. 
Anderson,  James  M.,  Corp. 
Anderson,  Francis  M. 
Brown,  John   (d-64) 
Grissom,  Elbert  W. 
Halcomb,  Stephen 
Perrigam,  W.  M. 

1st  Army  Corps,  Co.  2 
Huff,  Henry 

Recruits  for    Regular   Army 
Ehrenstine,  Robert 

14th  Cavalry,  Co.  C 
Norris,  Cains  S.,  Sergt. 
Able,  Seth  C. 
Hamilton,  Claud  B. 
Sumner,  Geo.  A. 

14th   Cavalry,  Co   E 
Elkins,  Eli 
Gather,  James  M. 
Hamilton,  Thos. 
Hall,  John 
Klutz,  Michael 
Owens,  James 
Stone,  Jeremiah 
Smith,  Barney  L. 
Whitnell,  Robert  N. 
Wilmet,  Walker    (d-65) 
Hartman,   Chas. 
Hester,  Jacob 
Holland,  Thos. 
Hooker,  Henderson  C. 
Kenneda,  Patrick  V. 
Hahs,  John,  2nd  Lieut. 
Jones,  George 
Reed,  Wm.  R. 
Reagan,  Josiah  F.   (d-64) 
Richards,  Thomas   (k-64) 
Reagan,  Charlton 
Reed,   John 
Short,  John 
Thompson,  Franklin 
Peeler,  W.  D. 
Tapp,  Lewis 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


195 


Watson,  James 
Warren,  Robert 

14th  Cavalry,  Co.  G 

Perkins,  Wm,  Capt. 

Garland,  Covington,  1st  Sergt. 

Thomas,  John  F.,  1st  Lieut. 

Lenox,  David  W.,  Corp. 

Hutchins,  Thomas  W.,  Corp. 

Sanders,  John  W.,  1st  Lieut. 

Dunn,  Shadrack  (d-62) 

Epperhamir,  Henry 

Fairless,  James  A. 

Freer,  Jos.  B. 

Fisher,   John   R. 

Fisher,   Milo 

Fisher,  David  B. 

Gray,  Nathan  M. 

Graden,  W.  C. 

Graden,  Joseph  G. 

Hunt,  James  W.  (m) 

Hamilton,  Thos.  W. 

Jones,  Allen  B. 

Jones,  David  L. 

Jones,  Wm.   D. 

Mathis,  William 

Parker,  James   (m) 

Scarlett,  John  B. 

Sooter,  John 

Smith,  John  E. 

Thomas,  William 

Turner,  Thomas 

Travelsted,  Jefferson  A. 

Wilson,  Wm. 

Argo,  John  W. 

Belcher,  Wm.  C. 

Crider,  Wm.  F. 

Cannon,  Hezekiah 

Cheek,  James  C. 

Davis,  James  M. 

Harris,  John  W. 

Huffman,  Geo.  H. 

Johnson,  Hiram 

Morgan,  Daniel  C. 

Moore,  Wm.  H. 


Mulkey,  Robert  F. 
McNew,  Josiah 
McKee,  Joel  R. 
May,  Wm.  H. 
Martin,  W.  G. 
Robinson,  Taylor 
Robison,  Samuel 
Seay,  John  W. 
Sharp,  Samuel  S. 
Simpson,  James  H. 
Sanders,  John  W. 
Warden,  Asa  Far. 
Simpson,  John  B. 
Smith,  Barney  S. 
Smoot,  Warren  O. 
Sharp,  James  W. 
Smith,  Lewis  W. 
Smith,  Wm.  H.  H. 
Simpson,  Andrew  J. 
Thomas,  Wm.  H. 

14th   Cavalry,  Co.  I 
Brown,   Sanders 

14th  Cavalry,  Co.  K 
Bird,  James 
Cox,  Richard  S. 
Blatner,  Jacob  F. 
Cox,  Thos.  J. 
Edwards,  Chas.  V. 
Grant,  Edmond  (d-64) 
Hall,  Isaac 

Houston,  Samuel  J.  (d-64) 
Houston,  Pleasant  (d-65) 
Harrel,  Wm.  A.  (d-64) 
Harman,  Wm. 
Johnson,  Henry,  J. 
Largeant,  Moses  B.    (d-64) 
Monroe,  Geo.  W. 
Murphy,  Patrick 
Moore,  Stephen  M.  (d-64) 
O'Neal,  W.  M. 
Smith,  John 
Short,  Lynn  B. 
Willis,  Wm.  S. 
Walker,  Winfield  S. 


196 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


Whitehead,  Andrew  J. 
Zimmerman,  Chas.  F. 

14th   Cavalry,   Unassigned 
Lane,  Wm.  T.,  rejected 
McCartney,  Geo.  R. 
Mattens,  G.  W. 
Pierson,  James  D. 
Ramsey,  John,  rejected 
Rose,  John 
Thomas,  Wm.  H. 

15th    Cavalry,    Co.    B 
Cooper,  James  C. 
Hartman,  Tobias 
McGee,  C.  E. 
Nulty,  Albert 
Peterson,  James  (d-62) 
Beham,   Joseph 
Jones,  Moses 
Stanton,  Griffon  A. 
House,  Wm.  R. 
Martin,  Henry,  unassigned 

Officers  Light  Art.,  Bat.  K 
Andrean,  Franklin,  Capt. 
Smith,  Jason  B.,  Capt. 
Shelton,  Joseph  P.,  1st  Lieut. 
Stephenson,  William,  2nd  Lieut. 
Franklin,  Joseph  W.,  Q.M.  Sergt. 
Cummins,  Samuel,  Sergt. 
Leach,  Geo.  W.,  Corp. 
Whittenberg,  Wm.  P. 
Cummins,  Jeremiah 
Helm,  Robert  A. 
Richerson,  Wm.  Harry 
Cross,  Jasper,  N.,  Bugler 
Marberry,  Wm.  L. 


Smith,  Ambrose  H. 
Bynum,  Samuel  M. 
Busby,  James  H. 
Bynum,    Martin    V. 
Bridges,  Benj.  F. 
Bass,  James  H. 
Cummins,  Martin  A. 
Comer,  John  K. 
Carr,  Wm.   G. 
Cox,  Alfred  H. 
Cross,  Jasper 
Davidson,  John  S. 
Day,  Geo.  W. 
Farmer,  Harrison 
Goddard,  Casper 
Curley,  James 
Johnson,  James  H. 
Lacy,  John  W. 
Morris,  John  C. 
Rentfro,  Samuel  C. 
Rentfro,  Francis,  M. 
Scott,  James 
Smith,  Jasper  F. 
Smith,  Hiram 
Skelton,  Joseph  P. 
White,  John  F. 
Williams,  James 
Williams,  Wm. 
Walker,  Wesley,  A. 
Walker,  Nathan  G. 
Williams,  Abraham  D. 
Williams,  Thomas 
Hard,  Jacob 
Irby,  John  H. 
Jackson,  J.  W. 
Walker,  J.  L. 


WORLD  WAR  WORK 

War  having  been  declared  by  the  United  States,  April 
6,  1917,  Johnson  County  had  no  part  in  it  till  June  of  that 
year,  except  to  send  some  of  her  sons  as  volunteers. 

The  following  people  were  given  authority  from  cen- 
tral headquarters  of  the  Red  Cross  to  form  a  chapter  in 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY  197 


Johnson  County.  Mrs.  P.  T.  Chapman,  Chairman;  Mr.  E. 
C.  Benson,  Secretary;  Rev.  C.  S.  Tritt,  Mrs.  Mary  E.  Chap- 
man, Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lucas  Parker,  Mr.  W.  H.  Gilliam,  Mrs. 
J.  Spieldoch,  Mrs.  Jennie  Rosenburg  and  Mrs.  George  E. 
Galeener.  Conforming  to  this  authority  the  committee  met 
June  18,  1917.  The  following  officers  were  elected :  Chair- 
man, Rev.  C.  S.  Tritt;  Vice-Chairman,  J.  Spieldoch,  Trea- 
surer, E.  C.  Benson,  Sec,  Lucas  Parker.  The  following 
elected  on  the  executive  board:  George  E.  Galeener,  F.  R. 
Wolfle,  W.  H.  Gilliam,  Mesdames  P.  T.  Chapman,  0.  R. 
Morgan,  W.  E.  Beal,  Vienna;  Miss  Gussie  Mathis,  Bloom- 
field  ;  Frank  Leary,  Foreman,  P.  C.  McMahan,  Tunnel  Hill ; 
Edward  Cummins,  Reevesville;  Dr.  H.  W.  Walker,  Grants- 
burgh;  J.  W.  Reynolds,  Simpson;  J.  R.  Barker,  Ozark;  Ray 
Lawrence  and  Mrs.  Arthur  Williams,  New  Burnside; 
Everet  McMahan  and  Mrs.  N.  J.  Benson,  Goreville;  Dr. 
Chas.  Nobles,  and  Mrs.  F.  S.  Kuykendall,  Buncombe ;  H.  A. 
Brown,  Boles ;  Rev.  J.  R.  Slaton  and  Blain  Pearce,  Cypress ; 
Mrs.  0.  P.  Martin,  and  Joseph  Crawford,  Belknap.  Ex- 
ecutive committee:  C.  S.  Tritt,  J.  Spieldoch,  E.  C.  Ben- 
son, F.  R.  Woelfle,  Mrs.  P.  T.  Chapman  and  Mrs.  0.  R. 
Morgan;  Campaign  committee,  J.  A.  Spieldoch,  H.  V. 
Carter,  J.  E.  Cunningham,  Mrs.  P.  T.  Chapman;  Mr.  J.  E. 
Cunningham  was  elected  secretary  and  the  following  com- 
mittees were  appointed  August  14,  1917:  Military  Relief: 
Hon.  P.  T.  Chapman,  Dr.  T.  E.  McCall,  H.  M.  Jackson, 
Charles  J.  Huffman,  H.  A.  Spann,  J.  E.  Cunningham,  and 
T  E.  Boyt;  Civil  Relief,  T.  C.  Penrod,  C.  M.  Pickens,  I.  H. 
Hook,  W.  H.  Gilliam,  F.  R.  Woelfle,  Mesdames  W.  E.  Beal, 
T.  E.  McCall;  Auditing:  E.  F.  Throgmorton,  W.  T.  Jobe, 
Miss  Lava  Ridenhower;  Nominating  Committee:  H.  V. 
Carter,  Dr.  R.  A.  McCall,  and  C.  M.  Dorris;  Committee 
on  supplies:  Mesdames  P.  T.  Chapman,  Delia  Parker,  T.  E. 
McCall,  Alice  Beal  and  D.  W.  Whittenberg. 

August  14,  1917,  meeting  for  annual  election  held  at 
the  court  house,  the  following  were  elected  as  trustees  of  the 
Johnson  County  Red  Cross  Chapter:  Goreville,  Mrs.  Henry 
Terry,  2  years,  Miss  Lilly  Foster,  2  years.  Elvira :  Dr.  C.  D. 
Nobles,  1  year,  Mrs.  Eva  Kuykendall,  1  year.  Cypress :  Mrs. 
Nellie  Wolf,  2  years,  Mrs.  P.  S.  Smith,  3  years.  Belknap : 
Mrs.  W.  N.  Gibbons,  3  years,  Mrs.  Sadie  West  2  years,  Mrs. 
Chas.  Marshall,  1  year.  New  Burnside:  Mrs.  A.  Williams 
1  year,  Ray  Lawrence,  2  years.     Grantsburg:  J.  T.  Wor- 


198  A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


mack,  2  years,  E.  S.  Cummins  3  years.  Bloomfield :  Gee. 
Mathis  3  years,  Thomas  Travis  2  years.  Simpson:  Miss 
Laura  Mount  3  years,  Mrs.  W.  G.  Taylor  1  year.  Vienna: 
Mrs.  Henry  Mahl  1  year,  F.  R.  Woelfle  1  year,  Mrs.  P.  T. 
Chapman  2  years,  Mrs.  Alice  Beal  3  years,  Mrs.  Lucas 
Parker  1  year,  J.  Spieldoch  2  years,  J.  E.  Cunningham  3 
years,  C.  M.  Pickens,  3  years,  E.  C.  Benson  2  years,  Mrs. 
May  McCall  1  year.  Johnson  County  Red  Cross  meeting  Oct. 
26,  1917  the  following  officers  were  elected:  Chairman,  C. 
M.  Pickens,  Secretary,  J.  E.  Cunningham,  Treasurer,  E.  C. 
Benson.  Executive  Committee,  Mrs.  P.  T.  Chapman,  Mrs. 
Delia  Parker,  J.  Spieldoch ;  Civilian  Committee :  W.  H.  Gil- 
lian, Lucas  Parker,  John  0.  Cowan,  F.  R.  Woelfle,  Mrs. 
Alice  Beal,  Mrs.  Emma  Gibbons  and  Dr.  C.  D.  Nobles. 

November  20,  1918,  being  the  day  appointed  by  the 
National  Red  Cross  for  annual  election,  the  following 
directors  were  elected  to  serve  for  the  year  1919.  Vienna 
Chapter:  Mesdames  Delia  Parker,  R.  R.  Ridenhower,  P.  T. 
Chapman,  Maggie  Hill,  Mattie  Cantwell,  H.  W.  Walker, 
Rev.  C.  H.  Croslin,  Rev.  C.  S.  Tritt,  John  M.  Brown,  T.  E. 
Boyt,  J.  E.  Cunningham,  Lucas  Parker,  C.  M.  Pickens,  J. 
Spieldoch,  H.  M.  Jackson,  F.  R.  Woelfle.  Goreville:  Lily 
Foster,  Siegle  Hubbard;  Belknap:  Emma  Gibbons, |  E. 
Sabine  West;  Grantsburg:  Ella  Modglin,  John  Griffin; 
Bloomfield:  Lewis  Taylor,  Delia  Fitzgerald;  Burnside:  Nell 
Williams,  W.  T.  Edmonson;  Buncombe;  Mable  Kuykendall, 
Dr.  C.  D.  Nobles.  Reeseville:  C.  C.  Whitworth,  Mrs.  Frank 
Marberry.  Tunnel  Hill:  Mrs.  Guy  Beauman,  Mrs.  Will 
Fern.  Cypress:  Mrs.  P.  W.  Rose,  Cora  Casper;  Ozark: 
Mrs.  L.  M.  Smith,  Mrs.  James  Barker.  West  Vienna :  John 
Racy,  Sarah  Horsely. 

November  20,  1918  the  Board  of  Directors  of  Johnson 
County  Red  Cross  elected  the  following  officers :  Rev.  C.  S. 
Tritt,  Chairman;  Mrs.  Delia  Parker,  Vice;  T.  E.  Boyt, 
Treasurer  J.  E.  Cunningham,  Secretary,  Mrs.  P.  T.  Chap- 
man, Mrs.  Mary  Walker  and  J.  Spieldoch,  Executive  Com- 
mittee. 

The  Johnson  County  Red  Cross  fell  a  little  short  of  its 
quota,  2,149,  the  membership  reaching  about  2,000.  Those 
who  did  work,  worked  with  a  willingness  unsurpassed  in 
any  section  of  this  broad  land  of  ours.  The  Chapter,  in- 
cluding all  the  branches,  sent  in  8,000  articles,  including 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY  199 


1,074  pairs  of  socks  and  526  sweaters  made  according  to  the 
directions  sent  out  from  headquarters.  The  Chapter  paid 
for  all  materials  used. 

Belknap  Branch  was  organized  July  13,  1917,  with 
Mrs.  0.  P.  Martin,  Chairman;  Mrs.  Emma  Gibbons,  Vice; 
Miss  Prudence  Anderson  Secretary,  Mrs.  Bertha  Martain, 
Treasurer,  Goreville  Branch  August  5,  1917,  with  John  J. 
Reed  as  Chairman,  Mrs.  Delia  Calhoun,  Vice,  Louise  Cal- 
houn, Treasurer,  Lily  D.  Montgomery,  Secretary.  New 
Burnside  Branch  was  organized  November  22,  1917,  with 
W.  A.  Williams,  Chairman,  J.  M.  Howerton,  Vice,  H.  C. 
Laborn,  Secretary,  Ray  Lawrence  Treasurer.  This  branch 
had  356  members,  by  January  1918.  Cypress  Branch  was 
organized  November  22,  1918.  Mrs.  Ellen  Jones,  Chair- 
man, Mrs.  Cora  Casper,  Vice,  Mrs.  Nannie  Rose,  Treasurer 
and  Mrs.  H.  T.  Evers,  Secretary.  Ozark  organized  May  6, 
1918,  E.  R.  Steagall,  Chairman,  L.  M.  Smith  Vice.  H.  A. 
Cox,  Secretary  J.  T.  Moore,  Treasurer,  Reevesville,  Febru- 
ary 11,  1918,  S.  E.  Cummins,  Chairman,  Frank  Marberry, 
Vice,  C.  C.  Whitworth,  Secretary,  Henry  Moore,  Treasurer. 
Buncombe  Branch  organized  February  17,  1918,  Hattie 
Nobles  Chairman,  Ettie  Mathis,  Vice,  L.  Hoover  Secretary, 
Eva  Kuykendall,  Treasurer.  Grantsburg  Branch  was  or- 
ganized May  1,  1918,  Louis  Trovillion,  Chairman,  John 
Griffin,  Vice,  Mrs.  Modglin,  Treasurer,  Phylis  Allard, 
Secretary.  Grantsburg  Branch,  Nunmber  2,  organized  the 
same  date  as  Reeseville,  Simpson  Branch  was  organized 
June  21,  1918,  James  A.  Whiteside,  Chairman,  Mrs.  Nellie 
Morris,  Secretary,  S.  B.  Morris  Treasurer.  Route  2  organ- 
ized with  23  members,  Mrs.  Ada  Elliot,  Chairman,  Mrs. 
Cora  Able,  Vice,  Miss  Lily  Chitty,  Secretary,  Mrs.  Effie 
Johns,  Treasurer.  West  Vienna  organized  June  20,  1918, 
John  Racy,  Chairman,  Essie  Horsely,  Vice,  0.  Newton,  Sec- 
retary, H.  A.  Brown,  Treasurer. 

May  3,  1918,  the  membership  committees  appointed  for 
Vianna  Chapter  were  as  follows:  Ward  1,  Mrs.  Mattie  Cant- 
well,  Ward  2,  Mrs.  J.  B.  Hankins,  Ward  3,  W.  E.  Beal,  E. 
C.  Benson  resigned  as  Treasurer  to  enlist  in  the  army, 
December  26,  1917,  and  T.  E.  Boyt  was  elected  to  fill  the 
vacancy.  Miss  Emma  Rebman  was  appointed  County 
Chairman  of  Junior  Red  Cross.  July  18,  1917  was  Red 
Cross  day  for  Vienna  Chapter  for  soliciting  members.  Com- 
mittee Isaac  Hook,  Captain  of  team  for  ward  1,  J.  E.  Cun- 


200  A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


ningham,  Captain  of  team  for  Ward  2,  L.  G.  Newton,  Cap- 
tain of  team  for  ward  3. 

June  9,  1918  was  set  apart  for  a  patriotic  day  at  Vienna 
a  flag  pole  was  set  and  a  large  flag  raised.  Many  partici- 
pated in  the  parade  with  decorated  automobiles,  wagons  and 
buggies ;  the  school  children  and  members  of  the  Red  Cross 
carrying  flags  formed  in  two  sections.  There  were  also  some 
good  addresses.  The  Vienna  Red  Cross  Chapter  provided 
every  soldier  that  left  with  the  draft  contingencies  with  a 
comfort  kit,  towel,  soap,  housewife  completely  furnished, 
till  the  order  came  from  headquarters  not  to  give  out  any 
more  comfort  kits  but  they  continued  to  furnish  the  other 
articles.  The  Red  Cross  work  rooms  were  first  established 
in  the  Carniege  Library  of  Vienna,  but  were  later  moved 
to  a  room  on  Fifth  Street  near  the  center  of  town. 

Mrs.  Lucus  Parker  was  county  chairman  for  the 
Woman's  Council  of  National  Defense,  Vice-Chairman,  Mr. 
W.  G.  Jackson;  Secretary  and  Treasurer,  Miss  Cornelia 
Smith.  Chairman  of  Departments — Conservation,  Mrs.  W. 
H.  Gillian;  Child  Welfare,  Mrs.  Maggie  Hill;  Courses  of 
Instruction,  Mrs.  Ruth  Chapman;  Food  Production,  Mrs. 
John  Brown ;  Information,  Mrs.  W.  Y.  Smith ;  Liberty  Loan, 
Mrs.  F.  R.  Wolfle;  Publicity,  Miss  Wilma  Harris;  Regis- 
tration, Miss  Arline  Smith. 

Vienna  Unit:  Mrs.  P.  T.  Chapman;  Belknap  Unit,  Mrs. 
W.  H.  Gibbons.  Chairman,  Registration  Committee  for 
Womans  National  Defense,  Goreville,  Miss  Lily  McCor- 
mick ;  Elvira,  Mrs.  Calvin  Mathis ;  Cache,  Mrs.  F.  S.  Smith  ; 
Belknap,  Mrs.  W.  H.  Gibbons;  Bloomfield,  Mrs.  George 
Mathis;  Vienna,  Mrs.  C.  M.  Dorris;  New  Burnside,  Mrs.  J. 
C.  B.  Heaton;  Simpson,  Mrs.  S.  Morris;  Grantsburg,  Mrs. 
Joseph  Gann. 

First  Liberty  Loan  Campaign,  County  Chairman,  P. 
T.  Chapman,  Vice;  T.  B.  Kirley.  Quota,  $130,750,  sub- 
scribed, $26,850. 

Second  Liberty  Loan  August  10,  1917,  P.  T.  Chapman, 
Chapman,  Chairman;  Sales  committee,  Ed.  Boyt.  F.  R. 
Woelfle,  J.  Spieldoch;  Publicity  Committee,  W.  H.  Gilliam, 
J.  B.  Hudgens,  J.  B.  Suit,  D.  A.  Burgeous,  Calvin  Carter, 
and  Joseph  Crawford;  quota  $87,500,  raised  $91,700.  The 
Third  Liberty  Loan,  campaign  began  April  6,  1918,  P.  T. 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY  201 


Chapman,  Chairman;  Hon.  W.  A.  Spann,  Chairman  of  the 
committee  of  one  hundred,  quota  $94,450.  The  amount  was 
subscribed  by  one  hundred  and  sixty -three  people.  The 
fourth  Liberty  Loan,  P.  T.  Chapman,  Chairman.  Quota 
$190,000,  raised  $199,400.  The  fifth  Liberty  Loan,  P.  T. 
Chapman,  Chairman.     Quota  $135,000,  raised  $148,100. 

Second  Liberty  Loan,  Mrs.  Louise  Woefle,  County 
Chairman  for  the  Womans  Liberty  Loan  Organization; 
Chairmen  for  the  different  townships  were :  Goreville,  Mrs. 
Asa  Foster;  Tunnel  Hill,  Mrs.  Guy  Beauman;  New  Burn- 
side,  Mrs.  Arthur  Williams;  Elvira,  Mrs.  C.  D.  Nobles; 
Blomfield,  Mrs.  J.  S.  Plater;  Simpson,  Mrs.  T.  B.  Mount; 
Belknap,  Mrs.  Bertha  Martain;  Cypress,  Mrs.  P.  W.  Rose; 
(Cache)  ;  Vienna,  Mrs.  Maggie  Hill;  Grantsburg,  Mrs.  De- 
laski  Walker. 

F.  R.  Woelfle,  County  Director  of  Boys  Working  Re- 
serve, also  Chairman  of  Committee  for  the  sale  of  war  sav- 
ing stamps,  sold  about  $210,000. 

Johnson  County  Y.  M.  C.  A.  drive  was  organized  No- 
vember 7,  1917.  Lucas  Parker  was  elected  Chairman,  W.  H. 
Gilliam,  Secretary.  Members  of  the  Executive  Board  were 
F.  R.  Woelfle,  J.  Spieldoch,  Dr.  R  A.  McCall,  Charles  A. 
Huffman,  E.  F.  Throgmorton,  of  Vienna;  Goreville,  John 
Grisham,  Chas.  Calhoun,  Thomas  Bradley;  Elvira,  S.  F. 
Elkins,  Calvin  Mathis,  W.  B.  McGinnis ;  Cache,  John  Brad- 
ley, J.  C.  Carter,  Dr.  P.  W.  Rose ;  Belknap ;  Mrs.  O.  P.  Mar- 
tin, W.  H.  Gibbons,  O.  M.  Fraim;  Tunnel  Hill,  Mrs.  Guy 
Beauman,  Mrs.  D.  M.  Cover,  John  M.  McCuan;  Bloomfield, 
J.  S.  Plater,  T.  C.  Taylor,  Geo.  W.  Mathis;  Vienna,  J.  M. 
Brown,  W.  N.  McCorcle,  Lee  Bridges;  Burnside,  Fred 
Heaton,  H.  C.  Laybourn,  John  Howerton ;  Simpson,  James 
Whiteside,  Fred  Veach,  Delbert  Kerley ;  Ozark,  Harvey  Cox. 
John  W.  Rushing,  George  Murphy ;  Grantsburg,  Chas.  Mod- 
glin,  Ezra  Trovillion,  John  L.  Grifin;  Ganntown,  George 
Cummins,  W.  A.  Robins,  John  L.  Marberry.  The  amount 
allotted  to  Johnson  County  for  Y.  M.  C.  A.  was  $2,000  and 
was  oversubscribed  $1,000. 

Johnson  County  quota  for  the  United  War  Workers 
Campaign  was  $7,500.  Lucas  Parker  was  county  Chair- 
man, Chas.  J.  Huffman,  Secretary.  The  committees  for  the 
different  townships  were  as  follows:  Goreville,  W.  H. 
Martin,   J.   J.   Lily,   J.   L.   Thornton,   W.   P.   Gore,   Henry 


202  A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


Terry,  A.  D.  Stanley,  J.  M.  Francis,  James  Gibson;  Bun- 
combe, Chas.  Trulove,  Chas.  Hunsaker,  W.  A.  Elkins,  E. 
L.  Raglsdale,  A.  J.  Kuykendall,  Corda  Elkins,  Charles 
Nobles,  and  William  Rich;  Cache,  Cypress,  Olin  Peeler, 
Frank  Penrod,  Henry  Lowery,  F.  M.  Capron,  Arthur  Deans, 
Dr.  P.  W.  Rose,  W.  Y.  Davis,  and  W.  Y.  Bradley,  W.  J 
Worrell;  Belknap  W.  L.  Wiliams,  J.  A.  Anderson,  0.  M. 
Frain,  John  Herrod,  Chas.  Marshall,  J.  C.  Casper,  S.  D. 
Peeler,  W.  H.  Larrison;  Tunnel  Hill,  Guy  Beauman,  G.  R. 
Casey,  E.  W.  Sutton,  W.  J.  Fern,  Nimrod  Webb,  A.  G.  Ben- 
son, G.  H.  McMahan,  James  Mohler,  Isiah  Lowery,  F.  P. 
Carson;  Bloomfield,  J.  C.  Taylor,  Geo.  W.  Mathis,  D.  P. 
Fleming,  W.  L.  Nipper,  Peter  Fitzgerald,  J.  N.  Benson, 
Walter  Stewart,  John  L.  Whiteside;  New  Burnside; 
J.  C.  B.  Heaton,  U.  S.  Lawrence,  W.  A.  Hobbs, 
Norman  Casper,  Arthur  Williams,  James  Horn,  Geo.  W. 
Lauderdale,  H.  D.  LaRue,  J.  B.  Henken;  Ozark,  Geo.  P. 
Harper,  L.  M.  Smith,  Frank  Stone,  R.  F.  Taylor,  L.  G. 
Simmons,  Otto  Stout,  Roy  Chester,  Harvey  Cox;  Simpson, 
Dr.  T.  B.  Kerley,  T.  B.  Mount,  H.  W.  Emerson,  W.  F. 
Veach,  Fred  S.  Veach,  Chas,  Murrie,  J.  F.  Gillespie,  John 
McCuan,  James  A.  Whiteside,  W.  J.  Murrie;  Grantsburg, 
Frank  Simmons,  A.  T.  Hazel,  Ezra  Trovillion,  Ray  Allard, 
Ed.  Guimm,  Chas,  Modglin,  James  Stout,  Rollie  Nelson; 
Gantown,  John  Lindsey,  Dr.  Joe,  Gann,  J.  D.  Wormack,  Ira, 
Farquhar,  G.  W.  Cummins,  C.  C.  Whitworth,  John  L.  Mar- 
berry,  J.  L.  Herd,  F.  M.  Fisher;  Vienna,  D.  W.  Mathis,  J. 
W.  Shinn,  John  M.  Brown,  Dick  Morgan,  A.  M.  Hester. 

Federal  Fuel  Administrator  for  the  county  was  J. 
Spielcoch,  assistants,  Thomas  A.  Bradley,  and  Dr.  H.  W. 
Walker;  Federal  Food  Administrator  for  the  county,  P.  T. 
Chapman;  Deputies,  Vienna,  W.  N.  McCorcle,  Grantsburg 
No.  2,  C.  C.  Whitworth.  Grantsburg  No.  1,  Ray  Allard; 
Belknap,  Joseph  Crawford ;  Cypress,  Ray  Carter ;  Bun- 
combe, Chas.  Hunsaker;  Goreville,  W.  H.  Martin;  Tunnel 
Hill,  E.  W.  Sutton;  New  Burnisde,  T.  S.  Ballance;  Ozark, 
R.  F.  Taylor;  Blomfield,  Geo.  Mathis;  Simpson,  W.  J. 
Murrie. 

It  is  only  just,  to  at  least  mention  the  willingness  with 
which  the  citizens  of  our  town  as  well  as  those  of  the  coun- 
ty, entered  into  the  world  war  work.  It  is  safe  to  say  no 
other  community  excelled  this  one  in  work  and  contribu- 
tions taking  into  consideration  our  number  and  financial 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY  203 


resources.  During  the  epidemic  of  the  Spanish  Influenza 
(winter  of  1918-19)  the  situation  became  so  desperate  we 
were  obliged  to  improvise  a  hospital  in  the  Carnegie  Library 
under  the  supervision  of  Reverend  C.  S.  Tritt,  Pastor  of 
the  M.  E.  Church  and  Chairman  of  the  Red  Cross.  Nine 
patients  were  cared  for  here  and  only  one  was  lost.  This 
scourge  took  some  of  our  best  young  business  men  as  well 
as  many  older  people.  Among  those  who  rendered  invalu- 
able service  during  this  time  of  stress  were  Miss  Beulah 
Walker  of  this  county  and  Miss  Lola  Stevers,  of  Grand 
Chain,  111.  The  citizens  neglected  nothing  which  would 
help  in  caring  for  those  afflicted  with  this  dread  disease. 

WORLD  WAR  INCIDENTS 

Twelve  men  enlisted  from  Belknap  before  the  registra- 
tion in  the  county  occurred.  They  were  Rider  Harris,  Rod- 
ney: N.  Tate,  Ralph  D.  Peeler,  W.  H.  Payne,  Harry, 
Griffith,  William  West,  James  C.  Anderson,  Newman  Rus- 
sell, Jesse  McCorcle,  C.  J.  Russell,  Walter  Martin,  Guy 
Casper. 

Total  registration  in  county  for  service  in  the  World 
War  at  the  first  registration,  May  5,  1917,  was  1,001.  By 
June,  1918,  121  more  had  reached  the  draft  age.  September 
1918,  the  number  of  men  registering  between  the  ages  of  18 
and  45  years  were  1,270,  total  registration  2,392.  As  some 
had  entered  the  service  before  the  registration  this  does 
not  include  all  the  men  eligible  from  this  county.  The 
Registering  Board  of  the  county  appointed  by  the  Gover- 
nor was  H.  A.  Spann,  John  L.  Veach,  and  Dr.  H.  W.  Walker. 
The  clerk  for  this  board  was  E.  F.  Throgmorton.  The 
registrars  for  the  county  appointed  by  the  Sheriff  were 
Regent  A.  D.  Stanley;  Goreville,  Ebert  Thulen;  Cache, 
Dr.  F.  S.  Smith  Belknap,  W.  H.  Gibbons;  Tunnel 
Hill,  S.  H.  Taylor  and  William  Fern;  Blomfield,  T.  C.  Taylor 
Vienna  No.  1  H.  V.  Carter,  Frank  Huddleson ;  Vienna  No. 
2.  G.  H.  Bridges  Lucas  Parker;  Burnside,  J.  M.  Howerton; 
Ray  Lawrence ;  Ozark,  J.  R.  Barker,  Oscar  Anderson ;  Simp- 
son J.  A.  Whiteside;  Grantsburg  No.  1  J.  T.  Wormack; 
Grantsburg,  No.  2,  J.  D.  Wormack.  Advisory  Board  for 
registrants  0.  R.  Morgan,  C.  J.  Huffman,  J.  O.  Cowan. 

The  Government  sent  special  trains  throughout  the 
country  in  the  interest  of  the  Liberty   Loan   Campaigns. 


204  A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


One  was  sent  to  Vienna,  April  19,  1918.  It  contained  dis- 
abled aeroplanes,  guns  and  various  other  implements  of  war 
captured  from  the  Germans.  Some  returned  soldiers  made 
talks  and  it  was  altogether  a  very  interesting  incident  for 
our  little  inland  city.  Hundreds  of  people  came  to  see  it 
from  the  surrounding  country.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  J.  Spieldoch 
presented  a  service  flag  to  the  Royal  Arch  Masonic  Lodge 
No.  150,  March  1918,  on  which  were  four  stars  in  honor 
of  Herman  Frizzell,  Ward  and  Ralph  Chapman,  Eugene  C. 
Benson,  members  of  the  Chapter.  Congressman  T.  S. 
Williams  presented  Mrs.  Mary  E.  Chapman  with  a  service 
flag  on  which  were  thirteen  stars,  in  honor  of  her  thirteen 
grandsons,  soldiers  of  the  World  War,  seven  of  whom 
served  in  France.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Harris  living  east  of 
town  had  three  sons  Clyde,  Melvin,  and  Herman  in  World 
War  service.  Mrs.  Woods,  colored,  of  Vienna,  also  had 
three  sons,  Richard,  Marvin  and  Lum.  Pickens,  who  did 
their  bit  in  the  World  War. 

The  news  reached  Vienna  shortly  after  four  oclock 
A.  M.  November  11,  that  the  armistice  between  the  Entente 
and  Germany  had  been  signed.  The  bells  began  to  ring, 
whistles  to  blow,  and  fire  arms  to  boom !  boom ! !  In  fact, 
they  made  a  noise  with  any  and  everything  that  came 
handy.  Among  the  first  ones  to  start  out  to  spread  the 
news  were  George  and  John  Gray.  They  soon  picked  up 
Prof.  Jobe  in  their  car  and  instead  of  Sheridan's  ride  it 
was  the  Grays  and  Jobe  heralding  the  welcome  news  that 
war  had  ceased.  Soon  the  streets  were  filled  with  people 
of  the  town  and  surounding  country,  all  eager  to  satisfy 
themselves,  that  the  news  was  true.  Some  expressed  joy  in 
one  way,  and  some  in  another,  but  there  could  be  no  doubt 
that  every  soul  was  glad  and  every  heart  beat  high  with 
joy.  Uncle  Mark  Hankins  appeared  on  the  scene  with  his 
flag  and  old  army  shotgun  which  had  been  captured  from 
the  Rebels  in  the  '60s.  He  started  out,  others  soon  fell  in 
and  a  parade  was  formed  around  the  square.  A  figure  of 
the  Kaiser  had  been  prepared  and  was  drawn  up  on  the  flag 
pole.  When  the  procession  reached  this  point,  at  command, 
they  shot  the  Kaiser  full  of  holes,  when  he  fell  they  used 
their  swords  on  him  and  he  was  then  placed  in  the  hearse 
and  carted  off.  The  celebration  was  kept  up  most  of  the 
day.  In  the  afternoon  there  were  addresses  made  by  Judge 
Lewis  of  Harrisburg  and  J.  F.  Craig  of  this  county.    C.  J. 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY  205 


Huffman  also  spoke    in    the   interest   of   the    United    War 
Workers  Campaign. 

Questionaires  were  sent  to  Mrs.  Geo.  Mathis  of  Bloom- 
field,  Mrs.  Bertha  Martin  of  Belknap,  J.  B.  Hudgens,  of 
Goreville,  H.  C.  Layborn  of  Burnside,  Miss  Laura  Mount  of 
Simpson,  Mrs.  P.  W.  Rose,  of  Cypress,  after  her  death  to 
Mrs.  Geo.  Mo'ak,  Mrs.  Campbell  Allard,  Grantsburg,  Mrs. 
Nora  Gilliam,  Tunnel  Hill,  Miss  Lava  Ridenhower,  Vienna, 
Calvin  Mathis,  Buncombe  asking  them  to  get  the  soldiers 
of  each  township  to  fill  out  the  papers  so  that  there  could 
be  a  complete  record  of  every  man  that  went  from  Johnson 
County  into  the  World  War.  They  were  not  able  to  secure 
all  the  data  requested,  consequently,  only  the  names  are 
given  which  have  been  collected  as  carefully  as  possible. 
If  any  name  has  been  omitted  it  is  because  no  information 
could  be  obtained.  The  following  is  a  copy  of  the  question- 
aire:  Name;  Place  and  date  of  birth;  Name  of  parents: 
Rank;  Assignment;  Place  of  training;  Date  and  time  over 
seas  if  any ;  Wounded  or  killed,  and  what  battle ;  Decoration 
if  any ;  For  what  service ;  Picture  if  possible. 

The  following  is  a  list  of  soldiers  who  were  killed  or 
died  during  the  war :  James  E.  Cummins,  son  of  J.  C.  and 
Alice  Cummins,  was  born  near  Bloomfield,  111.,  March  25, 
1885.  He  enlisted  in  the  United  States  Army,  June  25, 
1918.  He  was  first  sent  to  Ft.  Logan,  Colorado,  transferred 
from  there  to  Camp  Joseph  E.  Johnson,  Fla.  He  belonged 
to  the  28th  Company,  2nd  Officers  Training  Regiment,  died 
October  11,  1918.  Was  buried  at  Mt.  Pleasant  Cemetery, 
this  county,  October  17,  1918. 

Lieutenant  Herschel  C.  Tritt,  son  of  Claud  S.  and  Mary 
Tritt,  was  born  at  Newton,  111.,  March  23,  1896.  He  en- 
listed in  the  United  States  Army,  January  11,  1917.  Sailed 
for  overseas  duty  August,  1917.  He  received  his  training 
at  Ft.  Totten,  New  York  and  Saumeur,  France.  He  took 
part  in  the  battles  of  Chateau  Thierry,  and  the  Second 
Battle  of  the  Marne.  He  was  killed  in  action  at  Cherry 
Chattrereuv,  France,  August  19,  1918.  He  was  2nd  Lieut, 
of  Battery  B.  306  Field  Artillery. 

Sandy  Kelly,  son  of  I.  N.  and  Elizabeth  Kelly,  enlisted 
July  29,  trained  at  Camp  Taylor.  Died  in  camp,  October, 
1918. 


206  A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


Lieut.  Lindorf  R.  Kerley,  was  the  son  of  Dr.  T.  B. 
and  Mary  E.  Kerley.  He  was  born  at  Simpson,  111.,  January 
27,  1889.  He  served  as  1st  Lieut,  in  119  Field  Artillery 
with  the  A.  E.  F.  Was  killed  in  a  railroad  accident  near 
Orleans,  France,  December  5,  1918.  He  was  buried  in 
Fraternal  Cemetery,  Vienna,  111.,  January  21,  1921. 

Harvey,  Gold,  son  of  C.  B.  and  Mary  Gold,  was  born 
near  Goreville.  He  belonged  to  Co.  C.  314  Field  Signal 
Battalion.  Was  wounded  at  Haumont,  France,  the  day  the 
armistice  was  signed,  November  11,  1918.  Died  five  days 
later. 

Ray  E.  Nipper,  son  of  M.  V.  and  Effie  Nipper,  was 
born  at  Regent,  Johnson  County,  111.,  March  2,  1892.  En- 
listed in  the  U.  S.  Army,  April,  1917.  Went  overseas 
April,  1918.  Died  of  pneumonia,  at  Toul,  France,  Novem- 
ber 26,  1918.  He  belonged  to  Head  Quarters  Company, 
77th  Division. 

Chester  S.  Jobe,  son  of  John  and  Armina  Jobe,  was 
born  at  Tunnel  Hill,  111.,  September  3,  1895.  Enlisted  Feb- 
ruary 22,  1918.  Was  sent  to  Camp  Taylor,  Ky.,  where  he 
remained  about  two  weeks,  when  he  was  sent  overseas.  He 
was  wounded  in  action  September  29,  and  died  October  30, 
1918.  He  was  buried  in  St  Sever  Cemetery,  near  Rouen, 
France.  His  body  was  sent  home  and  buried  at  Reynolds- 
burg,  1921.     He  was  a  private  in  119th  Infantry  A.  E.  F. 

George  R.  Murphy,  was  born  near  Glendale,  February 
23,  1894.  He  was  the  son  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Cassia  Murphy. 
He  enlisted  in  U.  S.  Army,  May,  1917,  going  to  Jefferson 
Barracks,  Mo.  He  was  transferred  from  there  to  El  Paso, 
Texas,  then  to  New  York  City,  from  which  he  sailed,  June 
17,  1917,  with  Pershing's  Troops,  possibly  the  first  Johnson 
County  son  to  go  overseas.  He  was  a  Corporal  in  Head- 
quarters Company,  15th  Infantry,  4th  Div.  A.  E.  F.  He  was 
wounded  in  action  October  11,  1918.  After  two  months  in 
a  French  hospital,  he  was  transferred  to  a  New  York 
hospital  where  he  died,  February,  1919.  The  body  was 
brought  to  Simpson,  for  interment. 

Harry  Sullins,  son  of  Lincoln  and  Elizabeth  (Brooks) 
Sullins,  was  born  at  Ozark,  111.,  April  3,  1894.  Enlisted 
May  25,  1918.  He  was  a  private  in  Co.  G  58  Infantry,  4th 
Div.    He  trained  at  Camp  Gordon,  Ga.    Went  overseas  July 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY  20r 


18,  1918.  Participated  in  the  battles  of  St.  Mihiel,  and 
Argon  Forest.  Was  wounded  in  action  October,  1918.  Died 
October  28,  1918.    His  body  was  sent  home. 

Curtis  Grissom,  son  of  W.  M.  and  Nettie  (Farris)  Gris- 
som,  was  born  in  this  county,  January  30,  1895.  He  trained 
at  Mare  Island  and  Quantico,  Va.  He  was  a  private  in  the 
fifth  Marines,  2nd  Div.  Was  killed  October  4,  1918  at 
Mount  Blanc,  Ridge. 

WORLD  WAR  CONDITIONS 

The  experiences  of  the  World  War  have  been  sad  ones 
for  the  people  of  the  United  States.  It  took  the  flower  of 
our  manhood,  physically  speaking,  and  if  they  were  not 
killed  they  were  injured  mentally,  morally  or  physically. 
The  declaration  of  this  war  came  very  unexpectedly,  almost 
as  much  so  as  a  peal  of  thunder  out  of  a  clear  sky.  Many 
soldiers  went  into  this  war  half -heartily  and  they  could  not 
be  blamed.  It  was  a  trying  ordeal  to  take  a  man  from  a 
peaceful  pleasant  home,  a  lucrative  position  or  business 
and  send  him  across  the  sea  to  fight  with  and  for  people  he 
did  not  know.  True  it  was  for  a  principle  which  was  right 
and  circumstances  came  about  which  justified  it.  Many  in 
this  county  as  elsewhere,  volunteered,  but  this  was  decidely 
a  draft  war.  In  most  cases  those  who  had  positions  when 
they  entered  the  service,  found  them  waiting  for  them  on 
their  return,  but  there  seemed  to  be  a  restlessness  and  dis- 
content among  them  that  has  barely  passed  away  in  five 
years.  One  thing  is  certain,  those  who  served  on  the  other 
side  are  not  free  to  talk  of  their  experiences.  The  prevaling 
idea,  was,  that  war  would  cease  in  Europe  after  the  treaty 
of  Versailles.  There  is  still  turmoil,  strife  and  hatred. 
At  a  glance;  it  looks  as  though,  those  who  filled  graves 
in  France,  and  those  who  will  finish  lives  maimed  and  dis- 
abled, have  suffered  and  died  in  vain.  There  may  come  a 
better  day  from  all  this  sacrifice,  but  it  has  certainly  not 
dawned  as  yet. 


208  A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


'GLEN   FERN"   NEAR   TUNNEL  HILL 


SHADY  DELL,  REBMAN  PARK,  FERN  CLYFFE 


SELECTIVE  DRAFT 

PART  V. 


1st   Contingent,   Aug.   5,   1917 
McCorcle,  Chaiie  R.,  Vienna 
Harvick,  Charles  E.,  Vienna 
Kerley,  Claudie  X.,  Simpson 
Kerley,  Carnie  V.,  Simpson 
Gore,  Everett  L.  Buncombe 

2nd  Contingent,  Sept.  20,  1917 
Short,  Ralph,  Belknap 
Chamness,  Lawrence,  Goreville 
Rhodes,  Robert,  Vienna 
Brown,  Melvin,  Cypress 
Shelton,  Alger  Lee,  Grantsburg 
Penrod,  Wm.  Hosea,  Buncombe 
Terry,  Moses  M.,  Goreville 
Harris,  Clyde,  Vienna 
Martin,  Fred  J.,  Vienna 
Black,  Aron  C,  Goreville 
Stout,  Wm.  Earnest,  Tunnel  Hill 
Graham,  Fred  D.,  Belknap 
McGowan,  John  R.,  Tunnel  Hill 
Kellar,  James  Carrol,  Buncombe 
Kerley,  Pleas,  Simpson 
Veach,  Norman  E.,  Vienna 
Yandell,  Wm.,  Tunnel  Hill 
Simpson,  Arthur  G.,  Tunnel  Hill 
Cavitt,  Wm.  Aug.,  Tunnel  Hill 
Burklow,  Guy  C,  Goreville 
Musgrave,  Ervil  C,  Buncombe 
Taylor,  Roy,  Vienna 
Trout,  James  E.,  Reevesville 
Frizzell,  Roy  L.,  Burnside 
McMichiel,  Ben,  New  Burnside 
Hogg,  Guy  W.,  Vienna 
Mathis,  Alvin,  Bloomfield 
Parish,  Will  Lee,  Goreville 
Porter,  Autie,  Foreman 
Morris,  Rosco,  Vienna 
Marberry,  Frank  Reeseville 
Nestlerodt,  Morris,  Cypress 
Pritchet,  Henry,  Goreville 


Moses,  Henry,  Cypress 
Parker,  Abram,  Vienna 
Nesslerodt,  Harris,  Cypress 
Davis,  Ira  S.,  Belknap 

3rd  Contingent,  Oct.,  1917 
Throgmorton,  Josiah  N.,  New 

Burnside 
Hunter,  Doc  A.,  Vienna 
Sullivan,  Edgar,  Goreville 
Robertson,  Thomas  J.,  Bun- 
combe 
Cavitt,  Clyde,  Buncombe 
Shawmeeker,  Wm.  W.,  Vienna 
Miller,  James  A.,  Belknap 
Riley,  John  R.,  Belknap 
Porter,  George  E.,  Belknap 
Lokey,  Wm.  A.,  Belknap 
Sandifer,  Henry,  Belknap 
Hunt,  Chester  R.,  Vienna 
Short,  Edward  B.,  Cypress 
Hart,  George  B.,  Tunnel  Hill 
Grimes,  Cecil  C,  Tunnel  Hill 
Parish,  Edgar,  Goreville 
Kelley,  Walter  Lewis,  Tunnel 

Hill 
Johns,  Ray,  Tunnel  Hill 
Sanders,  J.  Frank,  Vienna 
4th  Contingent,  Feb.  23,  1918 
For  Camp  Zachary  Taylor 
Belcher,  Wm.  Roscoe,  Reeves- 
ville 
Deputy,  Clarence,  Vienna 
Gore,  Everett,  Lee,  Buncombe 
Reeves,  George  Washington, 

Reevesville 
Walker,  Cove,  Vienna 
Fairless,  Andrew  Jackson, 

Bloomfield 
Rikard,  Wm.  Wesley,  Buncombe 
McCuan,  Ado,  Vienna 


210 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


Taylor,  Ottis  Franklin,  Bloom- 
field 
Crayton,  Chesley  Mile,  Grants- 

burg 
Plater,  Clem,  Vienna 
Hicks,  Oscar,  Belknap 
Nobles,  Clarence  Redden,  Bun- 
combe 
McDaniel,  George  Allen,  Tunnel 

Hill 
Prater,  George  Franklin,  Bun- 
combe 
Plater,  Wm.  G.,  Vienna 
Comer,  Lawrence,  Grantsburg 
Stewart,  Ebb  Damron,  Bun- 
combe 
Mahan,  William,  Tunnel  Hill 
Stites,  Andrew  Jackson,  New 

Burnside. 
Phillips,  John,  Bloomfield 
Garrett,  Lewis  F.,  Simpson 
Cross,  Ira,  New  Burnside 
Sharp,  Chesley,  Vienna 
Comer,  Earl,  Grantsburg 
Webb,  Perceful  Lee,  Tunnel  Hill 
May,  Flodie  E.,  Simpson 
Jobe,  Chester,  Tunnel  Hill 

5th  Contingent,  April  29,  1918 
5  Men  to  Camp  Grant,  Rockford 
Kirkland,  Lacy,  Cypress 
Pickens,  Marvin,  Vienna 
Pickens,  Lum,  Vienna 
Pickens,  Richard,  Vienna 
Johnson,  Marion,  Grantsburg 
6th  Group,  April,  1918 
To  Camp   Dix,   N.  J. 
Casey,  Gomer  L.,  Tunnel  Hill 
Kelly,  Ned  Austin,  Cypress 
McCoy,  James  Robinson,  Parker 
Murphey,  Jessie,  Simpson 
Tyler,  Henry  Edward,  New 

Burnside 
Threet,  Ivy  C,  Vienna  R.  F.  D. 


Dively,  Paul  Franklin,  Tunnel 

Hill 
English,  Eber  Willis,  Vienna 
Gray,  Looney  Max,  Vienna 
Russell,  Charles,  Parker 
Shelton,  Ray,  Grantsburg 
Jobe,  James  Lewis,  Bloomfield 
Steagall,  Roy  Osceola,  Ozark 
Modglin,  Loyd  Wm.,  Grantsburg 
Modglin,  Joseph  Egleston, 

Grantsburg 
Huss,  Henry,  Belknap 
Grinnell,  B.  R.,  Buncombe 
Vineyard,  Vollie  O.,  Grantsburg 
Phelps,  Jessie  Otis,  Grantsburg 
Rosenberg,  David,  Vienna 
Johnston,  F.  Robert,  Jr.,  Vienna 
Underhill,  Charley,  Cypress 
Holmes,  Herman  E.,  Buncombe 
7th  Group,  May  10,  1918 
Fort  Thomas,  Ky. 
Jennings,  James  A.,  Simpson 
Mann,  James  Calvin,  New  Burn- 
side 
Corbit,  Wm.  T.,  Bloomfield 

8th  Group,  May  24,  1918 
Sent  to  Jefferson   Barracks,  Mo. 
West,  Raymond  Cole,  Simpson 
Ford,  John  Richard,  Tunnel  Hill 
Carter,  Arthur,  Vienna 
Kemp,  Grover  Cleveland, 

Grantsburg 
Johnson,  Charley,  Grantsburg 
Cavitt,  Wm.  Jackson,  Tunnel 

Hill 
Oneal,  Charles  Paul,  Ozark 
Needham,  Millard  O.,  Grants- 
burg 
Gray,  John  Oliver,  Vienna 
Worley,  Earl  Oliver,  Cypress 
Whiteside,  Ulis  R.,  New  Bum- 
side 
Gurley,  Calvin  Andrew,  Gore 
ville 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


211 


Wing,  Charles  E.,  New  Burnside 
Emmerson,  Clelis,  Simpson 
Wise,  Claud  A.,  New  Burnside 
Stevens,  Franklin  J.,  Goreville 
Black,  Samuel  E.,  Goreville 
Porter,  S.  F.,  Foreman 
Jobe,  Marion  Orlan,  Tunnel  Hill 
Burnham,  John,  Belknap 
Knupp,  Ralph  Eli,  Cypress 
Askew,  James  A.,  Tunnel  Hill 
Richardson,  Guy  Loren,  Simpson 
9th  Group,  May  25,  1918 

To  Camp  Gordon,  Ga. 
Musgrave,  Clifford  Raymond, 

Buncombe 
Kilgore,  Samuel  Emmet,  New 

Burnside 
Sullens,  Harry,  Ozark 
Porter,  George  Washington, 

Bloomfield 
Darnell,  John  Wm.,  Ozark 
Smith,  James  Thomas,  Vienna 
Escue,  Elbert  Edmond,  Bun- 
combe 
Stewart,  Charles,  Tunnel  Hill 
Pritchet,  Jake,  Goreville 
Walker,  Hiram  Hubert,  Gore- 
ville 
Dunn,  Joseph  Calvin,  Cypress 
Wymore,  Lannes,  Vienna 
McCabe,  Arthur  Francis,  New 

Burnside 
Hall,  Lora  C,  Goreville 
Mathis,  John  Franklin,  Cypress 
Phillips,  Harvey,  Bloomfield 
Grace,  Fred,  Goreville 
Sharp,  Benj.  N.,  Vienna 
Reynolds,  Robert,  Simpson 
Burnett,  Fred  Gould,  Vienna 
Crowder,  Hallie  Floyd,  Bun- 
combe 
Trigg,  Bert  R.,  Simpson 
Ford,  Raymond  Calvin,  Vienna 


Comer,  Bertis  Nathaniel, 

Grantsburg 
Smith,  Clay,  Creal  Springs 
Cavitt,  Ladd,  Ozark 
Hood,  Chas.  Wm.,  Vienna 
Whiteside,  Herman  Asa,  Simp- 
son 
Choat,  Earl  O.,  Simpson 
Tucker,  Raymond  Andrew,  Cy- 
press 
Huffman,  Francis  M.,  Vienna 
Sullins,  Cecil  C,  Ozark 
Rushing,  James  C,  Goreville 
Hess,  Elmer  Homer,  Vienna 
Williams,  Chas.  Marlow,  Grants- 
burg 
Martin,  Sidney  Corlis,  Cypress 
Clayton,  Wm.  Loss,  Bloomfield 
Trigg,  Lon,  Ozark 
Morris,  Charles,  New  Burnside 
Burns,  Chloa  E.,  Goreville 
Hunsaker,  J.  Paul,  Vienna 
Estes,  Oscar,  Reevesville 
Gray,  Mid,  Vienna 
Morgan,  Harry  O.,  Vienna 

10th   Group,   May  28,  1918 
To  Fort  Thomas,  Ky. 
Hood,  Coy  E.,  New  Burnside 
Simmons,  Arlie,  Tunnel  Hill 
Malaer,  Murray  E.,  Goreville  ' 
Lokey,  Ollie  E.,  Belknap 
White,  Durwood  Randall,  New 

Burnside 
Craig,  Wm.  H.,  Goreville 
Cavitt,  Robert  Ray,  Tunnel  Hill 
Cooper,  Lewis  Wesley,  Reevs- 

ville 
George,  Alphonso  O.,  Cypress 
Trigg,  Ned,  Simpson 
Boner,  Ralph,  Tunnel  Hill 
Looney,  Joseph  Whitehead, 

Vienna 
Harris,  Samuel  H.,  Belknap 


212 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


Murphey,  Earl,  Ozark 
Choat,  Geo.  Groves,  Tunnel  Hill 
McGowan,  Ralph,  Tunnel  Hill 
Kerley,  Marshall  R.,  Simpson 
Moak,  Claud  Ernest,  Cypress 
Jack,  Earnest,  Goreville 
Sharp,  James  Albert,  Simpson 
Ferrell,  Ervin  Wesley,  Reeves- 
ville 

11th  Group,  June  14,  1918 
Kansas  City,   Mo. 
Hard,  Emmet,  Reevesville 
Taylor,  Joseph  Edward,  Gan- 

town 
Simmons,  Wiley,  Vienna 
Burris,  Albert,  Vienna 
Buford,  Joseph  Clyde,  Cypress 
Ragsdale,  Olaff,  Grantsburg 
Shelton,  Ira,  Grantsburg 
Heaton,  Wm.  Herman,  New 

Burnside 
Graves,  Barney,  Goreville 
Hancock,  Ernest  M.,  Goreville 
Robertson,  Loyd  B.,  Buncombe 
McCall,  Oliver  Kenneth,  Bun- 
combe 
Parks,  Ward,  Tunnel  Hill 

12th  Group,  June  14,  1918 
To   Bradley  Tech.,   Peoria,  III. 

Burnett,  Lewis  Earl,  Vienna 
Downing,  Earl  Ernest,  Bloom- 
field 
Taylor,  Elbert,  Bloomfield 

13th  Contingent,  June  14,  1918 
To  Valparaiso,  Ind. 
Veach,  Clifford,  Vienna 
Cavitt,  George  W.,  Buncombe 

14th  Contingent,  June  27,  1918 
For  Camp  Taylor 
Taylor,  Henry,  Bloomfield 
Wright,  James  D.,  Tunnel  Hill 
May,  Lowell,  Ozark 


Gouge,  Ray,   Simpson 
Pea,  Malrey  W.,  Reevesville 
Emmerson,  Lester  Dow,  Vienna 
Scott,  James  Roy,  Simpson 
Ford,   Willie,   Vienna 
Johnson,  Noah,  Tunnel  Hill 
Crockett,  Glenn,  Reevesville 
Rikard,   Harrison,  Buncombe 
Whiteside,  Coy  Valentine, 

Bloomfield 
Jones,  David,  Jr.,  Vienna 
Gurley,  Floyd  Allen,  Cypress 
Hooker,  Homer,  Vienna 
Cook,  Lester,  New  Burnside 
Verhines,  Wm.  Otto,  Vienna 
Nelson,  Horrace  Greely,  Grants- 
burg 
McHugh,  Joe,  Tunnel  Hill 
Wallace,  Moody  C,  Vienna 
Bundren,  Jefferson  B.,  Ozark 
Harris,  Herman,  Vienna 
Vaugn,  Chas.  H.,  Vienna 
Murphy,  Arthur,   Ozark 
Oneal,  Thomas  Oscar,  Goreville 
Simpson,  John,  Ozark 
Vaughn,  Claud,  Tunnel  Hill 
Caraker,  Curtis,  Boles 
Hudgin,  S.  Elmer,  Cypress 
Sharp,  Ned,  Simpson 
Fort,  Roy,  Simpson 
Willyard,  Fred,  Buncombe 
Corzine,  William  H.,  Cypress 
Simmons,  Guy,  Tunnel  Hill 
Robinson,  Adolphus,  Simpson 
Rendleman,  John,  Goreville 
Chapman,  J.  C,  Vienna 
Holloway,  Ira  Burgess,  Grants- 
burg 
Cox,  Ben  Harrison,  Tunnel  Hill 
Beach,  Ivy,  Vienna 
Stout,  Gail,  Buncombe 
Mills,  Logan  W.,  Vienna 
Cole,  Herman,  Goreville 
Perry,  Ira,  Goreville 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


213 


Richerson,  Curtis  H.,  Simpson 
Harner,  Chas.  Elmer,  Bloomfield 
Jones,  Leo.  Everett,  Buncombe 
Thomas,  Wm.  Franklin,  Bun- 
combe 
Kincanon,  John  Preston, 

Bloomfield 
Dively,  James  Blain,  Tunnel  Hill 
Harris,  James  Bradley,  Vienna 
Mathis,    Jesse    Edward,    Grants- 
burg 
Haden,  Joseph  Robert,  Bloom- 
field 
Walker,  Oscar  Lavango,  Gore- 
ville 

Colbroth,  Alvin,  Tunnel  Hill 
Lawrence,  Samuel  Ray,  Ozark 
Taylor,  Omer  H.,  Bloomfield 
Hunter,  Virgil,  Vienna 

15th  Contingent,  July  30,  1918 
To   Syracuse,   N.   Y. 
Shawmeker,  Everett,  Vienna 
Hunter,  Doc  A.,  Vienna 
Reeves,  Geo.  W.,  Reevesville 
Brancecum,   Chas.  A.,  Bloom- 
field 
Graig,  Wm.,  Goreville 

16th    Contingent,   Aug.    1,    1918 
To  Camp  Taylor,  Ky. 

Phelps,  Chas.  Newton,  Grants- 
burg 

Beach,  Edwin  O.,  Vienna 
Harris,  Eugene  B.,  Vienna 
Boner,  Oscar,  Tunnel  Hill 
Harner,  Frank  Audie,  Bloom- 
field 
Blades,  Chancy  E.,  Simpson 
Fair,  General,  Cypress 
Kelly,  Sandy  H.,  Goreville 
Barnwell,  Alvin,  Ozark 


17th    Contingent,   Aug.  3,    1918 
Camp  Dodge,  Iowa 
Jackson,  Curtis,  Vienna 
Latham,  Ed.,  Vienna 
Williams,  Lige,  Cypress 
Graves,  Luther  Milton,  Cypress 

18th  Contingent,  Aug.  31,  1918 
Allen,  Barney,  Belknap 
Hogg,  Ray,  Vienna 
To  Camp  Grant,  Limited  Service 

19th  Contingent,  Sept.  3,  1918 

Chicago  Tech. 

Thornton,  Everett  C,  Goreville 
Royster,  John  J.,  Tunnel  Hill 
Lentz,  Ray  E.,  Cypress 

Chicago  Tech. 
20th  Contingent,  Sept.  6,  1918 
For  Camp  Custer,  Mich. 
Smith,  John  Wrm.,  Tunnel  Hill 
Lawrence,  Thomas,  New  Burn- 
side 
Short,  Harry  O.,  Belknap 
Choate,   Claude   Harper,  Tunnel 

Hill 
Phelps,  Roy  Olive,  Grantsburg 
Carter,  Homer,  Cypress 
Webb,  Wm.  Barton,  Tunnel  Hill 
Kennedy,  Frank  M.,  Simpson 
Colbroth,  Walter  Monroe,  Tun- 
nel Hill 
Hester,  Marion  Tulles,  Vienna 
Stout,  Frank,  Buncombe 
Sharp,  Walter,  Simpson 
Trigg,  Spencer,  Simpson 
Murrie,  Walter  W.,  Simpson 
Walker,  Sam  Ward,  Goreville 
Pearce,  Albert  Jacob,  Buncombe 
Cox,  Harvey  Louie,  Goreville 
Edwards,  Herman  Elmer,  Bel- 
knap 
Underwood,  Guy  Morris,  New 

Burnside 
Thomason,  J.  F.,  New  Burnside 


214 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


Howard,  Stephen  Allen,  Gore- 

ville 
Rentfro,  Chas.  Wesley,  Grants- 
burg 
Whiteside,  Chas.  Alonzo,  Bloom- 
field 
Brooks,  Ivor,  Tunnel  Hill 
Corzine,   Cletis,  Belknap 
Martin,  John  Clinton,  Cypress 
Trigg,  Joseph,  Simpson 
Gurley,  Jesse,  Buncombe 
Comer,  Charles,  Grantsburg 
Lowe,  Auty,  Belknap 


Grisham,  Fred,  Goreville 
Burnham,  Paul  A.,  Belknap 
Haneline,  Norman  Ivy,  Vienna 
Blakely,  Arthur  Elmer,  Bun- 
combe 

21st  Contingent 
Six  men  Chicago  U 
Mathis,  Ward,  Vienna 
Turley,  Marion,  Vienna 
Dunn,   Herschel,   Bloomfield 
Sanders,  Raymond,  Vienna 
Axley,  Billie,  Vienna 
Jones,  Tanner,  Hobart 


VOLUNTEERS  OF  WORLD  WAR 


Abenathy,  Maple,  Belknap 
Albright,  Uriel,  Vienna 
Allen,  Orville,  Belknap 
Ausbrooks,  Noel,  Vienna 
Bean,  Thomas,  Belknap 
Benson,  Eugene  C,  Vienna 
Benson,  Daniel,  Vienna 
Brown,  Harry,  Belknap 
Caldwell,  Harry,  New  Burnside 
Carleton,  Buel,  Vienna 
Carter,  W.  N.,  Vienna 
Cochran,  Harry,  Vienna 
Coleman,  Ray,  Goreville 
Chapman,  Joe  L.,  Vienna 
Chapman,  D.  W.,  Vienna 
Chapman,  Ralph,  Vienne 
Chapman,  Oliver,  Vienna 
Chapman,  P.  T.,  Jr.,  Vienna 
Cunningham,  Chas.  E.,  Vienna 
Clymore,  Maurice,  Vienna 
Casey,  Vernie,  Tunnel  Hill 
Davis,  Raymond,  Buncombe 
Davies,  Lloyd,  Vienna 
Daniels,  Elijah,  Vienna 
Elkins,  I.  N.,  Vienna 
Edmons,  Paul,  Vienna 


Estes,  Oscar,  Reevesville 
Evers,  Louie,  Belknap 
Ferrell,  Edgar,  Parker 
Fleming,  Clyde,  Vienna 
Francis,  James  I.,  Goreville 
Frizzell,  Herman,  Vienna 
Ford,  Loyd,  Vienna 
Gibson,  Ray,  Goreville 
Glassford,  George,  Vienna 
Gray,  Loyd,  Vienna 
Grissom,  Curtis,  Vienna 
Griffith,  Simpson,  Vienna 
Hard,  Henry,  Reevesville 
Hard,  James,  Reevesville 
Hurst,  Basil  P.,  Reevesville 
Hight,  Frank  P.,  Vienna 
Hammond,  John,  Belknap 
Hudgens,  Claud,  Goreville 
Howell,  William,  Vienna 
Hartline,  Jesse,  Cypress 
Harvick,  Elvin,  Vienna 
Hester,  Fred,  Vienna 
Hundley,  Robert,  Vienna 
Hudleson,  Frank,  Vienna 
Hobbs,  Orville,  Parker 
Hess,  Urban,  Vienna 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


215 


House,  Earl  C,  Belknap 
Harris,  Melvin,  Vienna 
Hess,  Samuel,  Vienna 
Hilburn,  Earl,  Vienna 
Holt,  Wiley,  Cypress 
Hart,  Morris,  Vienna 
Hood,  Ray  C,  Goreville 
Judson,  C.  O.  Belknap 
Kerley,  Olin,  Simpson 
Marshall,  William,  Belknap 
Looney,  Harold,  Vienna 
Mahl,  Chas.  A.,  Vienna 
Mason,  Leo.,  Belknap 
Maze,  Herschel,  Goreville 
Marberry,  Dr.  Jason,  Reeves- 

ville 
Mount,  Wayne,  Cypress 
McCall,  Dr.  T.  E.,  Vienna 
McCorcle,  Don,  Vienna 
Mulkey,  Ernest,  Cypress 
McCormack,  Earl  N.,  Goreville 
Morgan,  Lester,  Vienna 
Marberry,  Ward,  Reevesville 
Martin,  Walter,  Belknap 
Morford,  David,  Belknap 
Nobles,  Harry,  Buncombe 
Nobles,  Orin,   Buncombe 
Peterson,  Thomas,  Goreville 
Parks,  Carl  H.,  Vienna 
Parks,  Herbert,  Vienna 
Parker,  Donald,  Vienna 
Payne,  William,  Belknap 
Phillips,  Auty,  Goreville 
Phillips,  Arthur,  Vienna 
Plater,  Wade,  Vienna 
Rosenbarger,  Hal,  Vienna 
Rushing,  Lantha,  Ozark 
Ragsdale,  Olif,  Grantsburg 
Rhodes,  Herbert,  Vienna 
Richardson,  Floyd,  Belknap 
Roberts,  Hollis,  New  Burnside 
Robertson,  Dr.  Wayne  D.,  Bun 

combe 


Ridenhower,  Aron,  Buncombe 
Rose,  Claud,  Buncombe 
Rose,  Waldo,  New  Burnside 
Shaffer,  Artie,  Belknap 
Simpson,  Arthur,  Tunnel  Hill 
Smith,  Henry,  Vienna 
Smith,  Homer,  Vienna 
Smith,  Benjamin,  Vienna 
Spieldoch,  Sidney,  Vienna 
Stanley,  Mark,  Goreville 
Stanley,  Elmer  C,  New  Burn- 
side 

Stites,  Enoch,  New  Burnside 
Stewart,  Otto,  Buncombe 
Tate,  Rodney,  Belknap 
Thacker,  Americus,  Vienna 
Threet,  Ivy  C,  Simpson 
Tapley,  Rollo,  Belknap 
Thompson,  Dr.  Wm,  Belknap 
Thacker,  Chas.,  Vienna 
Tritt,  Herschel,  Vienna 
Turley,  Jacob,  Vienna 
Underwood,  H.  H.,  Goreville 
Watson,  Ray,  Vienna 
Waters,  Clarence  L.,  Bloomfleld 
Whiteaker,  Dr.  Hall,  Vienna 
Whiteside,  J.  G.,  Bloomfield 
Whittenberg,  D.  W.,  Vienna 
Whitehead,  Frank  A.,  Tunnel 

Hill 
Webb,  Clifford,  Tunnel  Hill 
Webb,  Cecil,  Tunnel  Hill 
Wiggins,  Rollo,  Goreville 
Wise,  Claud,  New  Burnside 

S.  A.  T.  C. 

Mathis,  Ernest 
Mathis,  Frank 
Nally,  Ernest 


216  A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


ELECTION  DISTRICTS 

The  July  court  of  1827,  laid  off  the  county  into  what 
was  called  election  districts.  The  boundaries  were  to  be 
about  the  same  as  the  militia  company  boundaries  were  at 
that  time.  The  first  district  was  the  same  as  Captain  An- 
drew Morton's  Co.  Captain  Barnabus  Smith's  with  a  sec- 
tion of  Morton's  formed  the  second  district.  Captain  Wm. 
Simpson's  Company  made  the  third  district  and  the  fourth 
was  that  part  of  Captain  Harvick's  Company,  lying  north 
of  the  ponds  and  including  Vienna,  and  that  part  of  his 
company  lying  south  of  said  ponds  formed  the  fifth  district. 
In  1826,  that  part  of  the  county  lying  between  the  ponds 
and  the  Ohio  River  had  been  made  a  separate  precinct, 
known  as  Massac,  and  the  election  was  ordered  held  at 
William  Parker's  for  that  year.  At  this  time  the  section  of 
Morton's  Company  lying  west  of  Big  Bay  was  added  to 
Barnabus  Smith's  Company  to  form  the  second  district.  In 
1827  the  place  for  the  election  for  the  fifth  district  was  to 
be  held  at  Moses  Cochran's  on  the  Ohio  River.  The  other 
elections  were  held  at  the  places  appointed  for  the  militia 
muster. 

POLITICAL  SITUATION  BEFORE  THE  CIVIL  WAR 

Sympathy  in  this  county  before  the  Civil  War  was 
very  much  in  favor  of  the  Southern  cause.  Most  of  the 
residents  were  Democrats,  the  others  Whigs,  as  the  Repub- 
lican Party  had  just  been  born.  The  following  is  an  account 
of  the  first  Republican  Convention  held  in  Johnson  County : 

FIRST  REPUBLICAN  CONVENTION 

The  proceedings  of  the  first  Republican  Convention 
held  in  Johnson  County  was  published  first  in  the  Johnson 
County  Inquirer,  April  6,  1860  and  was  republished  in  "The 
Johnson  County  Journal,  1883,  as  follows :  The  Republicans 
of  Johnson  County,  assembled  in  convention  March  31 
1860,  at  the  court  house  in  Vienna,  for  the  purpose  of  ap- 
pointing delegates  to  the  state  convention,  with  a  respect- 
able and  enthusiastic  attendance.  The  house  being  called 
to  order,  motion  was  made  that  T.  D.  Scott  act  as  chairman, 
A.  Mather  as  secretary.  Motion  was  then  made  that  the 
chairman  appoint  a  committee  to  draft  resolution  express- 
ing the  sense  of  the  convention.  Messrs  H.  M.  Riden- 
hower,  Sr.,  W.  T.  Whitemore  and  G.  A.  Stanton  were  ap- 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY  217 


pointed  said  committee.  Motion  was  then  made  that  G.  W. 
Terrell  address  the  convention;  which  he  did  setting  forth 
the  principles  of  the  party  in  their  true  light  in  an  able  and 
eloquent  manner,  occupying  about  one  and  one  half  hours. 
The  resolutions  were  then  brought  in  by  the  committee  for 
adoption  which  were  as  follows :  "the  Republicans  of  John- 
son County,  in  convention  assembled,  who  are  opposed  to 
the  policy  of  the  present  administration,  to  the  extention 
of  slavery  into  territory  now  free,  to  the  agitation  of  the 
slave  question  in  favor  of  equal  rights  and  of  Union  of  these 
states  and  of  restoring  the  Republic  to  the  principles  of 
Washington,  Jefferson,  Madison  and  Clay,  do  Resolve  that 
we  affirm  our  adherence  to  the  Philadelphia  platform  as  em- 
bodying the  true  principles  of  the  Republican  party.  Re- 
solved that  we  have  no  sympathy  whatever  with  Abolition- 
ists, that  the  Harper's  Ferry  raid  was  an  exhibition  of  the 
most  reckless  madness;  and  that  the  prepetrators  received 
their  richly  merited  reward,  and  that  the  disunion  senti- 
ment so  frequently  avowed  of  late  in  Congress  is  the  basest 
of  treason.  Resolved,  that  believing  with  Jefferson  that 
the  negro  and  white  races  equally  free  cannot  live  in  the 
same  government,  we  cordially  and  heartily  support  all 
efforts  at  colonization  of  free  negroes  and  that  with  a  host 
of  able  Republicans,  we  hold  it  to  be  the  duty  of  Congress  to 
purchase  new  or  contiguous  territory  and  to  remove  all 
free  blacks  thereto :  Resolved  that  we  cordially  indorse  the 
course  of  the  Hon.  G.  Grow  and  other  eminent  Republicans 
vigorously  urging  upon  Congress  the  necessity  of  granting 
every  actual  settler  160  acres  of  the  public  domain :  Re- 
solved, that  the  course  of  Lyman  Trumbull,  our  senator 
meets  our  approval/'  The  aforesaid  resolutions  were 
adopted  by  the  convention.  Motion  was  then  made  to  ap- 
point delegates  to  the  state  convention.  H.  M.  Ridenhower, 
J.  W.  Terrel  and  A.  W.  McGee  were  appointed.  J.  W.  Ter- 
rell made  a  motion  that  in  case  there  was  but  one  present 
at  the  State  convention,  that  he  be  permitted  to  cast  the 
vote  for  all,  which  was  adopted.  W.  T.  Whitemore  moved 
a  vote  of  thanks  be  tendered  Mr.  Terrell  for  entertaining 
the  convention  which  motion  was  adopted :  after  which  the 
motion  was  made  to  adjourn.     A.  A.  Mather  Secretary. " 

The  following  is  an  extract  from  an  account  given  in 
the  same  paper  and  dated  from  "Hell's  Neck,"  an  appella- 
tion given  a  section  of  the  county  directly  west  of  Vienna 


218  A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 

and  supposed  to  be  a  rough  neighborhood.  The  writer  says, 
referring  to  the  convention :  "On  last  Saturday  there  was 
an  immense  gathering  of  the  "wool'  (Oh,  dear,  what  a  mis- 
take I  have  made)  woolly  heads  is  what  I  intended.  Early 
in  the  morning  the  roads  and  streets  leading  to  the  court 
house  were  dotted  with  the  numbers  that  wanted  to  say  and 
hear  said  all  things  that  pertain  to  the  advancement  of  the 
niggers  and  the  killing  of  S.  A.  Douglas.  About  one  o'clock 
Mr.  Kirkham  was  requested  to  inform  the  public  that  the 
convention  was  going  to  convene,  which  he  did  after  this 
style ;  Oh,  yes,  all  you  that  want  to  hear  a  black  Republican 
speech  and  a  few  lies  told  on  the  Democratic  party,  come 
up.  After  a  little  delay,  until  the  wool  settled,  the  meeting 
was  called  to  order  by  Mr.  Ridenhower  of  the  woolly  headed 
central  committee.  He  then  refers  to  the  appointment  of 
permanent  officers  and  committees  and  discusses  Terrell's 
speech  as  follows :  "Mr.  Terrell  went  on  at  some  length  to 
illuminate  the  house  with  one  of  his  odiferous  batches  of 
black  wool,  which  has  been  soaking  in  grease  for  about  two 
years  according  to  his  admission.  He  told  the  good  brethern 
that  he  had  been  insulted  before  his  back  and  behind  his 
face  by  being  called  a  "damned"  Black  Republican  and 
abolitionist,"  but  that  he  was  glad,  yes  exceedingly  glad 
that  the  time  had  come  that  he  was  not  ashamed  nor 
afraid  to  tell  to  all  the  world  and  his  nine  black  Republican 
brethern  that  he  was  down  on  Douglas  like  a  darkey  on  a 
roasted  possum.  He  went  on  to  say  that  Washington,  Jeff- 
erson and  Monroe  were  all  advocates  of  the  same  doctrine 
that  the  black  Republicans  are  at  the  present  day  and  that 
Douglas  instead  of  being  a  friend  to  his  country  was  only 
assisting  with  all  his  mind  and  power  to  dissolve  the  union 
or  at  least  that  was  the  substance  of  his  remarks.  After 
demolishing  Douglas  he  gave  us  a  touch  of  the  "Homestead 
Bill'  and  wanted  Congress  to  give  all  the  black  Republicans 
of  the  north  a  home  in  the  west,  forgetting  the  injustice 
that  it  would  be  doing  the  hardy  pioneer  who  had  subdued 
these  wilds  and  paid  his  money  for  a  homestead,  but  he 
wants  Congress  to  send  a  lot  of  negro  worshippers  among 
them  to  contaminate  their  good  morals  with  negro  equality. 
Does  not  any  man  with  half  an  eye  see  the  drift  of  the 
Homestead  Bill  as  gotten  up  by  the  northern  negro  wor- 
shippers?" The  writer  of  the  article  then  rails  against  the 
Homestead  bill  and  goes  on  to  say"  Mr.  Terrell  charges  all 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY  219 


the  blood  shed  in  Kansas  to  Douglas  and  all  the  things  that 
have  happened  in  the  last  ten  years  to  the  Democrats  and 
on  whose  head  grows  the  longest  wool.  He  then  sat  down 
amid  shouts  of  applause  that  could  be  heard  in  the  remotest 
corners  of  the  court  house.  The  committee  then  rose  up 
from  behind  a  bench  and  presented  some  kind  of  a  "revela- 
tion" which  was  adopted.  There  was  something  in  it  about 
one  living  Bumble  Bull  or  Tumble  Bull,  I  don't  know  which, 
but  they  indorsed  his  course  at  Washington.  They  found 
no  good  in  Abraham's  bosom,  so  they  let  him  slide.  The 
convention  then  proceeded  to  select  delegates  to  the  great 
wool  gathering  at  Decatur.  He  said  that  the  ones  selected 
had  more  wool  on  them  than  any  of  the  nine  brethern  pres- 
ent, Signed  D.  S.  N. 

From  this  article  one  would  get  the  idea  that  there 
were  but  nine  Republicans  at  this  first  convention. 

John  C.  Freemont  was  the  first  presidential  candidate 
on  the  Republican  platform  of  1856,  which  was  avowedly 
against  the  spreading  of  slavery.  It  is  said  there  were 
only  two  men  in  Johnson  County  who  voted  for  Freemont 
in  1856,  Merida  Spencer  and  H.  M.  Ridenhower,  Sr.  It 
was  considered  a  dreadful  disgrace  in  those  days,  almost 
a  crime  to  be  a  Republican.  They  were  called  Black  Aboli- 
tionists, Negro  Lovers  and  other  Names.  A  black  sheep 
skin  was  nailed  on  the  door  of  John  Bain's  Store  after 
the  election  to  show  how  his  neighbors  regarded  a  man  that 
would  in  any  way  be  against  the  extension  of  slavery  and 
apparently  for  the  black  race.  It  was  almost  natural  for 
the  people  of  this  county  to  favor  slavery,  and  sympathize 
with  the  South.  When  one  remembers  most  of  the  old 
settlers  came  from  the  Southern  states  and  had  been  raised 
with  slavery.  By  1860,  the  lines  began  to  be  very  taut. 
There  were  more  Republicans  by  then  and  official  returns 
of  the  presidential  election  given  in  the  Chicago  Tribune 
of  November  14,  1860  show  Johnson  County,  Illinois  gave 
Abraham  Lincoln  forty  votes,  and  Stephen  A.  Douglas  one 
thousand  five  hundred  and  sixty-three.  The  following 
names  have  been  given  as  the  men  who  cast  their  vote  for 
Lincoln :  John  Bain,  Griffith  Stanton,  Charles  Reed,  Zack 
Calhoun,  George  Calhoun,  Stith  M.  Warren,  H.  M.  Riden- 
howe,  Sr.,  William  Wood,  Randolph  Casey,  L.  L.  Madden, 
W.  T.  Whitemore,  Sr.,  John  Whitemore,  William  Whitemore, 
Jr.,  Mills,  a  son-in-law  to  Whitemore,  H.  B.  Wiley,  Thomas 


220  A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 

D.  Scott,  Rev.  0.  H.  Clark,  A.  A.  Mather,  Rev.  Levi  Walker, 
A.  J.  Henry,  Henry  Lawrence,  a  Mr.  Hays,  William  Finley, 
Thornton  Mozley,  Ira  N.  Harrell,  James  Shelton,  Walter 
Scott,  John  E.  Smith,  a  Mr.  Coleman,  Judge  Brills,  Mark 
Bain,  Robert  and  William  Lewis,  J.  W.  Terrell,  A.  W.  Mc- 
Gee,  Robert  Lewis,  Jr.,  Nelson  Martin,  H.  G.  Harpending, 
William  Jones. 

Sparks  in  his  Illinois  historcial  collections  gives  an  ex- 
tract from  the  "Chicago  Press  and  Tribune,"  September  17, 
1858,  referring  to  the  Lincoln  and  Doublas  debate  at  Jones- 
boro,  September,  1858,  says  "Until  ten  o'clock  on  Wednes- 
day the  only  evidence  of  the  third  great  debate  in  old  Jones- 
boro  was  a  procession  calling  itself  "The  Johnson  County 
Delegation,"  consisting  of  two  yoke  of  steers  and  a  banner 
inscribed  Stephen  A.  Douglas,  turned  upside  down."  Sev- 
eral circumstances  have  been  given  by  old  people  of  tho 
county,  which  will  show  the  trent  of  opinion  of  the  people 
of  that  time.  H.  M.  Ridenhower,  Sr.,  and  D.  C.  Chapman 
voted  at  the  same  place,  Goreville.  As  Chapman  was  going 
to  the  polls  he  met  Ridenhower  coming  from  there,  and  ask 
him  if  he  had  voted.  Ridenhower  said  no,  "They  would  not 
let  me."  Chapman  asked  him  if  he  wanted  to  vote  and  he 
said  he  did.  Chapman  told  him  to  return  and  he  would 
see  that  he  was  allowed  to  vote.  He  told  the  parties  they 
did  not  dare  to  prohibit  a  man  from  voting  on  account  of 
his  political  opinion.  Ridenhower  voted  for  Lincoln.  This 
story  was  given  by  Captain  Mark  Whiteaker,  now  ninety- 
two  years  old. 

Another  story  told  by  Captain  Gillespie  was,  that  Rev. 
Levi  Walker,  who  was  the  M.  E.  Minister  in  charge  of  the 
Vienna  circuit  at  that  time  voted  for  Lincoln  and  his  church 
members  refused  to  pay  him  for  that  reason.  He  was 
obliged  to  do  manual  labor  to  support  his  family  during  the 
remainder  of  his  pastorate.  Mrs.  Eliza  Dwyer  now  in  her 
ninety-fourth  year  in  speaking  of  these  days  says  that  Grif- 
fith Stanton  cast  his  vote  for  Lincoln  in  Vienna  and  the 
people  ran  him  out  of  town.  He  went  in  such  a  hurry  that 
he  left  his  hat. 

Mrs.  Jane  Pearce,  widow  of  Garner  Pearce,  who  lived 
near  Buncombe  at  the  time  of  the  Civil  War,  says  that  H. 
G.  Harpending  a  neighbor  of  hers  voted  for  Lincoln  in  1860. 
She  also  says  there  were  a  great  many  men  who  were  in 
sympathy  with  Lincoln  and  his  platform,  but  did  not  have 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY  221 


courage  to  vote  their  convictions,  since  the  plan  of  voting  in 
those  days  was  quite  different  from  the  present.  Each 
voter  anounced  to  the  judges  of  the  election  for  whom  he 
was  voting,  all  bystanders"  within  hearing  knew  just  how 
every  man  voted.  She  further  relates,  the  following: 
"John  N.  Mozley  who  lived  at  old  Elvira  brought  the  news 
from  Vienna  to  Mrs.  Pearce's  neighborhood,  that  Ft.  Sump- 
ter  had  been  fired  upon.  Mozley  left  Vienna  early  in  the 
morning  and  reached  their  place  about  eleven  o'clock. " 
These  must  have  been  strenuous  times  and  this  news  must 
have  fallen  like  a  pall  over  this  broad  land  of  ours.  How 
much  more  quickly  the  World  War  news  was  circulated  and 
now  1924,  it  would  be  known  as  quickly  as  the  sound  could 
travel  from  Washington.  The  news  of  Ex-President  Wil- 
son's death  was  known  here  about  five  minutes  after  his 
death  occurred. 

The  Knights  of  the  Golden  Circle  were  very  plentiful 
in  our  county.  They  were  a  secret  organization  sympathiz- 
ing with  the  south  and  sometimes  owing  to  the  character  of 
the  men  belonging,  did  shameful  and  in  many  cases  crim- 
inal acts,  to  the  families  of  the  Union  soldiers.  Captain 
Whiteaker  speaking  of  the  Knights  of  the  Golden  Circle 
said  there  were  only  five  men  in  his  neighborhood  in  1861 
and  1862  that  did  not  belongs  to  this  society.  These  were 
Oliver  Newbold,  John  Slack,  Anderson  Howerton,  Ira  Wise. 
and  himself.  They  threatened^  hang  him,  but  went  no 
further  than  to  call  at  his  house  late  at  night  asking  for  to- 
bacco and  pretending  to  be  hunting  a  calf.  He  finally  told 
them  to  leave  and  if  they  ever  came  to  his  home  again  some 
of  them  would  stay  all  night,  interspersing  his  remarks 
with  a  good  many  unmentionable  terms.  Later  he  was 
raising  a  company  for  the  Union  Army  and  accidently  ran 
into  a  meeting  of  the  K.  G.  C,  at  the  school  house.  He 
went  in,  took  the  floor,  made  a  speech  and  secured  several 
volunteers  from  the  crowd.  There  was  a  secret  organization 
in  the  county  to  offset  K.  G.  Cs.  known  as  the  Union  League. 
William  Whitemore  was  the  founder  and  leader  in  this 
county.  He  lived  where  Cypress  is  now  located  and  meet- 
ings were  held  at  his  home.  Captain  Whiteaker  was  a 
member.  It  is  said  Governor  Yates  sent  for  Mr.  White- 
more  and  asked  him  to  organize  lodges  of  the  Union  League 
in  this  and  other  states,  which  he  did. 

W.  C.  Allen  relates  the  following  story  of  the  origin  of 


222  A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


Lincoln  Green  Post  Office  in  the  West  Eden  neighborhood. 
C.  N.  Gray  came  to  the  West  Eden  neighborhood,  from  Ken- 
tucky. He  had  some  wealth  and  owned  a  lumber  mill  be- 
tween what  is  now  Belknap  and  Cypress.  He  kept  the  post 
office  and  it  was  called  Gray's  Mill.  During  the  war,  he 
showed  such  decided  favor  to  the  South  and  its  cause,  that 
he  became  unpopular.  Now  that  so  many  had  sons  and 
neighbors  in  the  Union  Army,  sentiment  had  radically 
changed.  To  show  their  contempt  for  Gray  the  citizens  had 
the  name  of  the  post  office  changed  to  Lincoln  Green  and 
moved  to  the  home  of  David  Deans,  Sr. 

Mrs.  O.  P.  Martin  of  Belknap,  remembers  a  story  that 
was  told  of  war  days  in  that  neighborhood  of  a  Dr.  Clark 
who  had  come  to  that  community  from  the  south  with  his 
southern  sentiments.  He  was  so  bold  as  to  paint  a  copper- 
head snake  on  his  door  or  was  so  outspoken  in  his  belief  and 
loyalty  to  the  South  that  some  one  else  painted  it.  At  any 
rate  the  picture  did  not  long  remain  as  the  house  was  burn- 
ed within  a  few  days  by  unknown  parties.  A  person  living 
in  this  section  who  sympathized  with  and  aided  the  south 
ern  cause  was  called  a  Copperhead.  Most  people  know  the 
nature  of  a  copperhead  snake  and  can  easily  discern  the 
opinion  of  those  applying  the  name. 

Aunt  Eliza  Dwyer  also  gave  as  well  as  she  could  re- 
member an  incident  at  a  meeting  in  Vienna  about  1861. 
Hon.  A.  J.  Kuykendall,  who  was  serving  in  the  state  Senate 
from  this  district  as  a  Democrat,  saw  whither  our  nation 
was  drifting  and  wished  to  define  his  policies.  He  was  to 
speak  at  this  meeting;  great  crowds  had  gathered  as  these 
were  exciting  times.  There  was  a  large  flag  which  had 
been  made  by  the  women  of  the  town,  Mrs.  Moody,  the 
editor's  wife,  Mrs.  Dwyer  and  others.  This  flag  was  sus- 
pended from  a  rope  which  extended  from  Chapman's  brick 
to  the  court  house  across  the  north  side  of  the  square.  A 
man  by  the  name  of  James  Cooper  ran  his  horse  up  the 
square  and  shot  a  hole  in  the  flag.  What  would  happen  to  a 
man  that  would  do  such  a  thing  in  Vienna  at  the  present 
time.  After  Kuykendall  had  made  his  speech,  Cooper  was 
convinced  of  the  right  and  was  the  first  one  to  enlist  in  the 
Union  army  the  following  morning.  But  sentiment  was 
still  against  Mr.  Kuykendall  in  many  sections  and  not  all 
won  over  in  his  own  town  and  county.  There  were  no  rail- 
roads here  at  that  time  and  people  had  to  drive  to  Dongola 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY  223 


to  get  the  Illinois  Central.  Mr.  Kuykendall  was  to  return 
to  his  duties  at  Springfield.  The  news  was  circulated  that 
they  were  going  to  mob  him  on  the  road  to  Dongola;  his 
wife  hastily  dressed  and  went  with  him,  thinking  there 
would  be  no  violence  in  the  presence  of  a  woman.  Captain 
J.  B.  Gillespie  was  a  witness  to  the  following  incident. 
During  the  time  Major  Kuykendall  was  serving  in  the  Sen- 
ate, on  one  of  his  trips  home,  he  came  down  all  ready  to 
return  to  his  work  at  Springfield.  He  was  met  at  the  corner 
of  west  main  and  fifth  street  by  a  crowd  of  the  representa- 
tive citizens  of  the  town.  They  asked  him  what  he  was 
going  to  do  when  he  went  back  to  Springfield  he  replied,  "I 
am  going  to  vote  money  and  men  to  put  down  this  damned 
rebellion."  Mr.  Gillespie  said,  "I  turned  away  for  I  thought 
they  were  going  to  disembowel  him  and  I  did  not  want  to 
see  it.,, 

The  following  incident  was  given  by  Mrs.  Mary  Snow, 
daughter  of  H.  M.  Ridenhower,  Sr.  In  the  fall  of  1860,  she 
said  masked  men  came  to  her  father's  house,  called  him  out 
and  were  going  to  hang  him  because  he  was  outspoken  for 
the  Union  cause,  an  abolitionist,  a  teetotler  and  had  voted 
for  Lincoln;  (sufficient  cause  for  hanging  in  those  days.) 
Mrs.  Snow  was  told  when  she  was  older  the  reason  they  did 
not  hang  her  father  was,  that  he  was  a  Mason. 

In  a  speech  before  the  Historical  Society  of  Illinois  in 
1911  Bluford  Wilson  said  "There  were  3,538  drafted  men 
from  Illinois  in  the  Civil  War,  but  not  one  from  Southern 
Illinois,  which  means  there  were  1,426  volunteers  from  this 
county  (this  number  was  quoted  from  Lusk.)  Many  were 
anxious  to  get  into  the  fray  and  went  to  other  states  and  en- 
listed. In  1862  the  soldiers  who  had  enlisted  in  the  120th 
regiment  were  camped  for  some  time  in  the  old  fair  grounds 
awaiting  orders.  When  the  orders  came  and  the  day  of 
leaving  was  fixed  it  was  said  to  be  a  most  pathetic  scene. 
The  people  came  from  this  and  neighboring  counties  to  say 
goodbye  and  see  them  leave.  Many  of  the  people  seeing 
their  husbands,  sons  and  fathers  for  the  last  time.  A  lady, 
now  seventy  years  old,  says  she  remembers  the  day,  how 
early  the  people  came  in  and  how  depressing  it  was  to  her, 
then  a  child. 

POLITICAL  SITUATION  AFTER  THE  CIVIL  WAR 
After  the  surrender  of  Lee,  the  men  who  had  left  their 
homes  from  this  country  and  gone  out  at  their  country's 


224  A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


call,  returned  and  took  up  the  duties  of  life  where  they  had 
laid  them  down.  Of  course,  many  of  them  were  depleted 
in  health  which  they  never  regained.  Many  young  men  who 
had  entered  the  war  at  an  early  age  had  never  been  out  of 
the  county  before,  and  while  they  had  encountered  hard- 
ships, they  had  been  over  a  great  deal  of  territory  and  had 
met  and  mingled  with  eastern  and  southern  men  and  ideas. 
It  stirred  an  ambition  in  them  that  they  had  not  had  before. 
One  soldier  who  had  enlisted  at  the  age  of  fifteen  had  been 
offered  the  Corporalcy  of  his  company.  He  said  he  did 
not  have  sufficient  education  to  keep  the  records  required. 
He  resolved  then  if  he  ever  reached  home  alive  he  would 
have  an  education.  He  made  good  his  resolution  and  was 
a  teacher  of  this  county  for  several  years  and  an  editor 
many  more.  While  soldier  life  was  rough  and  men  of  every 
kind  of  character  marched  and  bunked  together,  there  is 
something  that  brings  out  the  best  in  some,  and,  of  course, 
the  worst  in  others.  But  they  form  a  friendship  that  lasts 
through  life  and  an  army  comrade  is  always  a  comrade, 
whether  good  or  bad.  Many  men  suffer  hardships  in 
prison  and  services  and  incurred  diseases  they  were  years 
overcoming;  some  never  entirely  recovered. 

Many  families  had  lost  father,  son,  husband,  brother 
or  sweetheart,  some  had  been  killed,  others  suffered  and 
died  in  rebel  prisons,  and  the  feeling  was  very  bitter  to- 
wards Secessionists  or  any  one  who  sympathized  with  them. 
Most  of  the  returned  soldiers  were  Republicans  regardless 
of  what  their  party  affiliations  had  been  before,  and  while 
a  democrat  was  not  necessarily  a  rebel  prejudice  and  bitter 
feeling  ran  high.  A  Copperhead  was  a  Northern  man  who 
sympathized  with  and  aided  the  south  during  the  war,  and 
this  name  was  applied  to  many  in  this  county,  and  it  cannot 
be  denied  in  some  cases  justly. 

Elections  were  places  of  contention,  and  sometimes 
almost  miniature  war  occured  at  the  polls  espicially  if  there 
had  been  enough  liquor  distributed. 

Men  were  not  willing  to  have  a  man  of  opposite  politi- 
cal belief  on  a  jury  where  they  were  interested  in  the  case; 
some  would  not  even  trade  in  a  store  if  kept  by  one  belong- 
ing to  the  other  party.  During  the  war  there  had  been 
many  refugees  who  had  come  into  this  county  and  adjoining 
ones  of  this  section  of  the  state,  who  were  really  rebels. 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY  225 


One  old  citizen  said  every  available  place  in  his  part  of 
the  county  was  filled  with  Southerners,  who  had  come  here 
to  escape  service  in  the  Southern  Army  or  the  ravages  of 
war.  Every  available  house  was  filled,  and  people  lived 
in  barns  and  rail  pens.  There  were  many  loyal  democrats 
in  the  county,  many  who  served  in  the  war,  but  for  years  it 
was  difficult  for  some  of  the  boys  who  wore  the  blue  to 
distinguish  between  a  loyal  democrat  and  a  man  who  had 
rebelled  against  his  government,  since  they  voted  the  same 
ticket.  This  condition  prevaled  for  many  years  but  time 
and  education  have  finally  eradicated  this  feeling  in  the 
North,  and  most  of  us  are  willing  to  admit  that  the  war  is 
over. 

The  period  of  financial  readjustment  was  much  as  it 
has  been  since  the  World  War.  Necessities  were  higher 
than  now  in  many  cases.  This  being  a  country  district 
crime  did  not  reach  the  height  it  did  in  some  communities. 
The  negro  problem  annoyed  us  very  little,  owing  to  our  hav- 
ing very  few  negro  citizens  among  us.  Many  soldiers  were 
disabled  from  exposure  and  wounds  and  unable  to  accomp- 
lish much  in  a  financial  way  after  the  war,  but  the  govern- 
ment soon  began  to  look  after  them  and  their  families  who 
had  been  left  without  support.  Pensions  were  allowed  them 
and  increased  from  time  to  time  until  with  economy  a  man 
and  wife  could  live  on  his  pension.  In  1898  there  were 
three  Civil  War  veterans,  William  Coleman,  Burnside ;  Wm. 
Hitchcock,  Vienna  and  Mr.  McBride,  Belknap,  who  drew 
$72.00  per  month  pension.  This  was  considered  a  liberal 
amount  at  that  time,  but  most  every  man  who  served  in  the 
Civil  War,  receives  $72.00  per  month  now  and  the  widow 
of  a  Civil  War  soldier  receives  thirty  dollars  per  month 
pension  from  the  government. 

A  war  fund  was  voted  in  this  county  for  the  relief  of 
soldiers  and  sailors  families,  in  1862.  The  amount  for  each 
township,  judging  from  the  receipts  given  the  sheriff,  was 
$330.00.  It  was  distributed  during  the  years  1862-63-64. 
It  was  levied  by  the  county  court. 

LEGISLATIVE  AND  JUDICIAL 

The  first  territorial  legislature  was  held  in  Kaskaskia 
at  the  home  of  Thomas  Cox,  1809.  Johnson,  being  a  part 
of  Randolph  County  had  no  local  representative  but  after 


226  A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


September  14th,  1812,  when  we  had  taken  on  the  dignity 
of  a  name  and  an  organization,  we  were  allowed  one  repre- 
sentative, there  being  five  counties  in  the  Territory,  at  that 
time,  St.  Clair,  Randolph,  Madison,  Gallatin,  and  Johnson. 
There  were  five  senators,  Thomas  Furguson  was  elected 
to  the  senate,  and  John  Grammer  to  the  assembly  from  this 
county,  on  October  9th,  10th  and  12th,  1812.  The  next 
Territorial  Legislature  met  at  Kaskaskia,  November  25, 
1812.  The  representatives  serving  in  the  state  Legislature 
from  this  county  from  this  date  are  given  in  the  following 
list:  2nd  and  3rd  Legislature  1814-1815  Thomas  Ferguson, 
Senate,  Owen  Evans,  House;  4th  Legislature,  1816,  John 
Grammer,  Senate,  Joseph  Palmer,  House;  5th  Legislature, 
1817-18,  John  Grammer,  Senate,  Joseph  Palmer,  House; 
1st  State  Legislature,  1818-20  Thomas  Roberts,  Senate, 
Isaac  D.  Wilcox  House;  2nd  Legislature,  1820-22  Milton 
Ladd,  Senate,  William  McFatridge,  House;  3rd  Legislature, 
1822-24,  Milton  Ladd,  Senate,  William  McFatridge,  House ; 
4th  Legislature,  1824-26.  John  Ewing  Senate,  John  Bridges, 
House ;  5th  Legislature,  1826-28,  Johnson,  Union,  Alexander 
Counties,  John  Ewing,  Senate,  from  Johnson;  6th  Legisla- 
ture, 1828-30  no  representative  from  Johnson;  7th  Legisla- 
ture, 1830-32  John  Grammer  Senate,  Joseph  L.  Priestly, 
House ;  8th  Legislature  1832-34,  John  Grammer,  Senate,  B. 
S.  Enloe,  House;  9th  Legislature  1834-36  John  Oliver 
House;  10th  Legislature,  1836-38  B.  S.  Enloe,  House;  11th 
Legislature,  1838-40  Dr.  W.  J.  Gibbs,  Senate,  James  Cope- 
land,  House;  12th  Legislature  1840-42  Senate  Dr.  W.  J. 
Gibbs,  John  Oliver,  House;  13th  Legislature  1842-44  A.  J. 
Kuykendall,  House;  14th  Legislature  1844-46,  A.  J.  Kuy- 
kendall,  House;  15th  Legislature  1846-48  Enoch  Enloe, 
House;  16th  Legislature  1848-50  W.  Y.  Davis,  Senate,  D.  Y. 
Bridges,  Jr.,  House;  17th  Legislature  1850-52  A.  J.  Kuy- 
kendall Senate;  18th  Legislature  1852-54  A.  J.  Kuykendall, 
Senate,  D.  Y.  Bridges,  Jr.  House,  19th  Legislature  1854-56 
A.  J.  Kuykendall,  Senate;  20th  Legislature  1856-58  A.  J. 
Kuykendall  Senate,  Thomas  Jones,  House;  21st  Legislature 
1858-60  A.  J.  Kuykendall,  Senate,  J.  D.  Pulley,  House;  22nd 
Legislature  1860-62  A.  J.  Kuykendall,  Senate,  J.  D.  Pulley, 
House;  23th  Legislature  1862-64  no  representative;  24th 
Legislature  1864-66  W.  A.  Looney,  House;  25th  Legislature 
1866-68  no  representative;  26th  Legislature,  1868-70  no 
representative;  27th  Legislature  1870-72  J.  B.  Morray, 
House;  28th  Legislature  1872-74  J.  L.  Wymore,  F.  M.  Mc- 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY  227 


Gee  House;  29th  Legislature,  1874-76  Samuel  Glassford, 
Senate;  30th  Legislature  1876-78  Samuel  Glassford,  Senate; 
31st  Legislature  1878-80  J.  A.  Carter,  House,  A.  J.  Kuy- 
kendall,  Senate;  32nd  Legislature  1880-82  W.  A.  Spann, 
House,  A.  J.  Kuykendall,  Senate;  33rd  Legislature,  1882-84 
no  representative;  34th  Legislature  W.  C.  Allen,  House; 
35th  Legislature  1884-86  A.  K.  Vickers,  House ;  36th  Legis- 
lature 1886-88  I.  A.  J.  Parker,  House;  37th  through  41st 
Legislatures,  1888-1900,  no  representative  in  the  House  and 
P.  T.  Chapman,  Senate;  42nd  Legislature  1900-02  L.  H. 
Frizzell,  House,  P.  T.  Chapman,  Senate;  43rd  and  44th 
Legislatures  1902-06,  no  representatives;  45th  Legislature 
1906-08  G.  W.  English,  House;  46th  Legislature  1908-10 
G.  W.  English,  House;  47th  Legislature  1910-12  G.  W.  Eng- 
lish, and  John  Mathis,  House;  48th  through  51st  Legisla- 
tures 1912-20  no  representatives;  52nd  Legislature  1920-22 
John  Mathis,  House. 

In  1818  when  the  state  was  organized  there  were  free 
white  males  of  age,  118,  other  white  inhabitants  538,  free 
colored  and  slaves,  24,  total  678.  The  superintendent  of  the 
census  added  89  giving  us  a  total  population  768,  which 
was  rather  a  small  population  for  a  county  of  so  large  an 
area  at  that  time.  When  the  constitution  was  adopted  John- 
son and  Franklin  made  one  Senatorial  district  and  each 
was  allowed  a  representative.  In  1826  Johnson  with  Union 
and  Alexander  as  a  Sentorial  district  was  represented  by 
Dr.  B.  W.  Brooks,  who  was  a  resident  of  Union  and  the 
following  is  an  extract  from  a  speech  made  by  him  Febru- 
ary, 17,  1827,  giving  an  account  of  his  stewardship  as  a 
representative,  and  this  has  reference  to  Johnson  County. 
He  says,  "I  have  thought  it  my  duty  to  use  every  exertion  in 
my  power  to  curtail  the  expense  of  the  government;  pro- 
tect the  treasury  from  those  speculations  that  hitherto  de- 
voured it,  and  adopted  a  rigid  system  of  economy."  He 
then  speaks  of  some  reforms  he  had  advocated  which  would 
save  the  state  $2,700  a  year,  but  his  efforts  failed  and  the 
assembly  continued  to  vote  appropriations  for  building 
bridges  and  making  roads  in  certain  sections  of  the  state. 
He  voted  against  all  these  measures  as  the  state  treasury 
was  empty,  "Finally  thinking  it  unjust  that  our  part  of  the 
state  should  be  taxed  to  make  improvements  for  the  other 
parts,  without  any  equivalent,  I  introduced  a  bill  making 
an  appropriation  of  $200  for  opening  a  state  road  from 
Frankfort  in  Franklin  County  through  Vienna,  in  Johnson, 


228  A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


to  Wilcox  warehouse,  on  the  Ohio  River,  and  for  building  a 
permanent  bridge  across  the  pond  (slough)"  Dr.  Brooks 
had  also  tried  to  get  another  representative  for  these  coun- 
ties as  the  three  only  had  one  representative,  but  it  was 
opposed  on  the  grounds  that  it  could  not  be  done  till  the 
next  apportionment  which  would  be  in  1830. 

The  population  of  Johnson  County  in  1820,  the  first 
census  taken  after  this  became  a  state,  was;  whites  843, 
slaves  14;  1830  whites  1,585,  slaves  11;  1840,  3,626;  1850, 
4,115;  1860,  9,324;  1870,  11,186;  1880,  13,079;  1890,  15,013 
1900,  15,667;  1910,  14,331;  1920,  12,000.  Our  population 
more  than  doubled  between  1850  and  1860  and  increased  un- 
til 1900.  It  has  been  decreasing  slightly  in  the  last  twenty 
years.  In  1850  there  were  718  families  in  the  county,  301 
farms,  9,658  acres  of  improved  land  and  524  pupils  in  pub- 
lic schools. 

In  1838  Johnson  and  Pope  formed  a  Senatorial  District. 
In  1840  Johnson  was  joined  to  Pope  and  Hardin.  In  1848 
under  the  new  constitution  Alexander,  Union,  Pulaski,  John- 
son, Massac,  Pope,  Hardin  and  Gallatin  formed  the  first 
Senatorial  District.  This  apportionment  was  changed 
when  Alexander  in  1854,  was  admitted  to  the  25th  Sena- 
toria  District.  In  1861  Pope,  Hardin,  Gallatin,  Saline, 
Alexander,  Pulaski,  Massac,  Union  and  Johnson  formed  a 
Senatorial  District.  In  1871  about  the  same  combination 
formed  the  51st  Senatorial  District.  In  1893  Pulaski, 
Massac,  Johnson,  Pope  and  Saline  made  the  51st  Senatorial 
District.  In  1900  Hamilton,  Saline,  Pope,  Johnson  and 
Massac  were  made  the  51st  Senatorial  District. 

Johnson  County  has  had  but  two  Congressmen  in  all 
her  years  of  existence,  A.  J,  Kuykendall,  who  was  elected 
in  1864  and  P.  T.  Chapman,  elected  1904.  There  was  only 
one  Congressional  District  in  Illinois  for  fourteen  years 
after  it  was  admitted  into  the  Union.  In  1831  the  state 
was  divided  into  three  Congressional  Districts  and  Johnson 
County  with  fifteen  other  counties  formed  the  1st  Congres- 
sional District.  In  1843  Johnson  County  was  placed  in 
second  Congressional  District  with  thirteen  others.  It  was 
changed  to  the  9th  Congressional  District  with  eighteen 
other  counties  in  1852.  In  1860  we  were  in  the  thirteenth 
congressional  district  with  fifteen  other  counties,  and 
changed  to  different  districts  from  time  to  time  until  1900, 
when  Johnson  with  Clay,  Wayne,  Edwards,  White,  Hamil- 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY  229 


ton,  Saline,  Gallatin,  Hardin,  Pope  and  Massac  were  formed 
into  the  twenty-fourth  Congressional  District,  which  is  the 
present  division. 

OLD  PAPERS 

After  looking  over  the  many  old  papers  such  as  estates, 
receipts  and  notes,  thinking  they  would  be  of  interest  to 
their  descendants  we  have  decided  to  use  the  following ;  the 
names  will  show  who  the  first  settlers  were.  This  is  done 
at  the  risk  of  being  tedious,  but  they  are  so  interesting  one 
cannot  forego  the  opportunity  to  reproduce  some  of  them. 
The  oldest  paper  found  is  a  receipt  among  the  papers  of 
William  Lawrence  which  follows:  "March  12,  1800,  settled 
all  accounts  with  James  Worthington  up  to  this  day,  due  to 
said  Worthington  by  settlement,  eight  dollars  three  shillings 
and  ten  pence.  As  witness  my  hand — John  Musbond."  An- 
other article  found  among  his  papers  that  does  not  seem 
to  be  connected  with  his  estate  but  evidently  his  property, 
was  a  small  book  made  of  writing  paper,  and  inscribed  on 
the  first  page,  "William  Lawrence,  his  hand  and  pen,  March 
27,  1803. "  On  the  outside  pages  were  quotations  of  a  hymn 
and  one  of  the  psalms.  The  first  pages  of  the  book  were 
devoted  to  retail  liquor  accounts.  Judging  from  this,  license 
issued  and  tax  receipts,  William  Lawrence,  was  a  distiller 
of  this  county.  Then  followed  this  account  of  his  family. 
"A  true  account  of  the  age  of  my  family,  William  Lawrence, 
Senior  was  born  December  27,  1770,  Esther  Worthington 
was  born  November  19,  1772  and  were  married  November 
12,  1793.  Children:  Elizabeth,  born  October  18,  1794; 
Phoebe,  born  October  19,  1796,  Benjamin  born  September 
19,  1798,  William,  Jr.,  January  2,  1801,  John  born  March  4, 
1803,  Nancy  born  January  3,  1805,  Calvin  born  May  9,  1807 
Lucindy  born  March  1,  1809,  Matilda  born  June  14,  1811, 
Polly  born  July  9,  1813."  William  Lawrence,  Sr.  adminis- 
tered on  the  estate  of  Samuel  Worthington,  and  it  is  more 
than  probable  his  wife  Ester  was  the  daughter  of  Samuel. 

One  of  the  largest  and  earliest  estates  recorded  is  that 
of  Nathaniel  Green.  Green's  old  ferry  located  on  the  Miss- 
issippi River  was  the  terminus  of  an  old  road  that  ran 
across  the  southern  end  of  the  state.  It  is  very  probable 
that  this  ferry  was  established  by  him  or  some  of  his  family, 
which  resided  in  the  western  part  of  Johnson  County  which 
is  now  Union. 


230  A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


The  executors  of  the  estate  of  Nathaniel  Green  were 
Thomas  and  Parish,  brothers  of  the  deceased  and  appointed 
by  him,  as  his  will  (recorded  elsewhere)  directs.  The  per- 
sonal property  sale  amounted  to  $1,573.95.  Some  articles 
offered  for  sale  that  are  now  out  of  the  ordinary,  were  two 
piggins,  50c  each,  these  were  small  wooden  vessels  made 
with  staves  and  hoops,  one  stave  was  left  longer  than  the 
other  for  a  handle,  and  they  were  usually  made  of  cedar  of 
various  sizes,  used  for  the  same  purpose  we  use  pans  and 
crocks  today;  one  flax  wheel,  which  indicates  that  flax  was 
raised  in  southern  Illinois  at  that  period,  $2.30;  one  Bible 
bought  $2.121/2 ;  one  pot,  lid  and  hooks,  $3.75,  pot  hooks 
are  not  now  in  use,  but  in  those  days  when  people  cooked 
on  the  open  fire  they  were  very  essential.  These  hooks  were 
long  pieces  of  iron,  joined  together  at  one  end  so  that  they 
would  work  freely.  They  had  hooks  on  the  other  ends  to 
lift  lids,  ovens  and  pots  with  out  bales  and  handles.  This 
sale  shows  one  negro  man  named  Richard,  one  negro  woman 
Anna  and  child  named  Reuben,  sold  to  Thomas  Cox,  for 
$770.00;  to  John  Earthman,  one  negro  boy  named  Charlie, 
$220.00.  The  account  of  Robert  Tweedy  for  the  year  1812 
shows  sixty  pounds  of  beef  for  a  dollar  and  a  half;  the 
account  of  John  Earthman  for  the  same  year,  81  pounds  of 
cotton  $2.00.  How  wonderfully  small  these  prices  seem  com- 
pared with  those  of  1917 :  beef,  45c  per  pound  and  cotton, 
48c  per  pound;  an  item  also  in  John  Earthman's  account 
was  two  ferryings  of  himself  and  horse  (referring  to  Nath- 
anial  Green)  $1.25  each.  Daniel  T.  Coleman  made  an  affi- 
davit before  Joseph  Palmer,  J.  P.,  that  Nathanial  Green 
"did  sign  to  school  to  Daniel  T.  Coleman,  on  an  article  of  the 
same  date  to  commence  on  the  first  Monday  in  January, 
1812,  and  assigned  the  25th  day  of  November,  1811.  This 
was  receipted  by  Daniel  T.  Coleman,  1814.  The  adminis- 
trators furnished  six  gallons  of  whiskey  for  the  sale  at 
$1.50  gallon.  George,  James  and  Robert  Tweedy  were  the 
appraisers  of  this  estate  and  the  sale  was  held  on  March  6, 
1812.  Thomas  Abernathy  and  Benjamin  N.  Conner  were 
the  clerks.  A  later  appraisment  was  made  by  Jacob  Hun- 
saker,  Robert  Tweedy,  and  B.  F.  Conner.  This  property 
was  all  live  stock  which  no  doubt  had  been  gathered  later, 
as  all  stock  ran  at  large  and  made  their  living  on  the  range. 
The  bond  of  Thomas  and  Parish  Green  was  replaced  at 
$2,000.  John  Bradshaw  and  Owen  Evans  were  the  bonds- 
men. 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY  231 


The  estate  of  Bazil  Borin  was  administered  on  by 
Hoseah  Borin.  James  Hogan  and  Thomas  Mcintosh  were 
his  security  for  a  $2,000  bond,  delivered  James  Finney, 
June  7th,  1813.  The  appraisers  were  John  Bradly,  Abra- 
ham Price.  Total  appraisment  was  $1,101.19.  A  feather 
bed  is  listed  at  $30.00,  one  side  of  leather,  $1.00,  the  im- 
provement, $40.00,  Jerry,  a  negro  boy  at  $300.00,  Clarice, 
a  girl,  $200.00,  Mariah  a  girl,  $150.00,  Fannie,  a  girl,  $100. 
In  the  account  rendered  against  the  estate  as  administrator 
is  the  following:  "For  entering  four  young  negroes  as  per 
receipt,  $8.00,  going  to  Tennessee  to  bring  back  three 
negroes  belonging  to  the  estate,  $38.00,  for  a  trip  to  Ten- 
nessee to  examine  witnesses  agreeable  to  notice  from  John 
Bradshaw  in  the  suit  brought  by  me  against  him  for  Isabel 
a  negro  girl,  $30.00."  The  amount  of  whiskey  was  only 
two  dollars.    Russel  E.  Heacock,  was  the  attorney. 

William  Dorris  presents  an  account  of  $125.00  dated 
April  14,  1802,  a  note  of  a  little  earlier  date  was  made  to 
Nimrod  McTosh  for  $7.50,  dated  March  1802,  signed  Bazil 
Borin,  Test.  H.  Johnson.  The  Borin  family  lived  in  the 
southern  part  of  the  county,  now  Pulaski.  The  Prices  are 
also  of  that  locality  and  descendants  of  both  families  still 
reside  in  that  section. 

The  estate  of  Joseph  Eubanks  was  adjusted  in  1814, 
Sally  Eubanks  and  William  Styles  administered  and  Isaac 
D.  Wilcox  and  David  Frame  were  their  bondsmen.  The 
articles  offered  at  this  sale  were  about  the  same  as  at  other 
sales  of  that  date.  A  receipt  was  signed  by  David  Shearer, 
January  3,  1812. 

There  is  an  acknowledgement  which  shows  this  busi- 
ness was  done  in  Massac  Township,  now  county,  Illinois 
Territory,  Johnson  County,  "I  certify  that  James  D.  Wilcox 
and  William  Cherry,  being  chosen  to  examine  the  estate  of 
Joseph  Eubanks  deceased,  was  duly  sworn  to  settle  the 
estate  according  to  the  best  of  their  skill  and  judgment, 
given  under  my  hand  and  seal,  27th  day  of  May,  1814,  John 
Prichard,  J.  P."  The  amount  of  Sally  Eubanks  taxes  on 
two  horses  for  the  years  1813-14,  was  $1.00  the  receipt  was 
signed  by  G.  Marshall,  D.  S.  The  same,  no  doubt  who  took 
the  oath  against  dueling.  Among  other  papers  is  the  fol- 
lowing order,  "Miss  Eubanks,  please  to  let  Mr.  Cochran 
have  my  bed  and  furniture,  you  will  oblige,  yours  Irvin 
Morris,  March  24,  1814."     The  following  promissory  note 


232  A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


has  no  visible  connection  with  Sally  Eubanks'  business  but 
was  found  among  her  papers,  "On  or  before  the  20th  day 
of  October  next  I  promise  to  pay  Moses  Oliver  or  order 
$17.08  for  value  received,  Kaskaskia,  20th  of  August,  1805, 
William  Wilson."  A  certificate  of  purchase,  adds  other 
evidence  to  the  fact  that  this  county  bought  and  sold 
slaves.  "I  do  certify  that  the  negro  girl  named  Anna  was 
purchased  by  Isaac  D.  Wilcox  at  the  sale  of  the  property  of 
Joseph  Eubanks,  deceased.  She  was  bid  off  to  him  as 
highest  bidder  at  $160.00,  and  said  Wilcox  has  paid  for  her 
and  is  lawfully  entitled  to  said  negro  and  no  other  person. 
Given  under  my  hand,  one  of  the  administrators,  this  9th 
day  of  October,  1815,  William  Styles." 

William  Lawrence  settled  the  estate  of  Samuel  Worth- 
ington,  1814.  Joseph  Palmer  and  Gilbert  were  his  securi- 
ties. A  letter  in  connection  with  this  estate  cites  the  method 
of  business  and  the  rate  of  interest  of  that  time,  and  reads 
as  follows,  "To  William  Lawrence,  Cache  Settlement  Illinois 
Territory,  by  Charles  Bradly,  Cape  Girardeau,  March  9, 
1815,  not  until  a  few  days  since  had  I  learned  of  the  death 
of  Samuel  Worthington,  and  I  understand  that  you  are  the 
administrator  of  his  estate.  I  have  a  judgment  against  his 
estate  in  favor  of  Robert  Hall,  surviving  partner  of  Waters 
and  Hall,  for  $53.86,  with  interest  from  17th  of  August, 
1806  which  is  $27.47,  Principal  and  interests  makes  $80.32. 
This  amount  I  authorize  Charles  Bradly  to  receive  from  you 
as  the  administrator.  I  have  also  a  judgment  rendered 
against  Samuel  Worthington  in  the  Mullenberg  circuit  court 
of  Kentucky,  for  $50  with  interest  from  the  24th  of  March, 
1807,  which  is  $24.00,  which  makes  $74.00.  The  cost  of 
said  judgment  is  $25.28.  The  amount  of  said  judgment  1 
give  you  notice  as  administrator.  Yours  with  respect, 
James  Evans."  Judging  from  the  accounts  of  William  Law- 
rence Sr.,  and  Samuel  Worthington  they  were  formally 
residents  of  Kentucky. 

The  settlement  of  the  estate  of  William  Morris  was  a 
year  later,  and  was  in  charge  of  Jane  Morris,  no  doubt  his 
widow.  Irving  Morris  and  Isaac  Worley  were  her  bonds- 
men. Judging  from  the  names  the  location  of  his  estate 
must  have  been  at  or  near  Elvira,  our  first  county  capital. 
George  Smiley  was  one  of  the  appraisers  and  Marvin  Fuller 
was  the  J.  P.  Nancy  Worthen  took  charge  of  her  husband's 
estate  whose  name  was  James,  May  3,  1815.    Josiah  Davis 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY  233 


and  Nathaniel  Arnett  were  her  securities.  The  personal 
property  amounted  to  $1,000.  John  Byers  was  the  J.  P. 
that  took  the  oath  of  the  appraisers.  There  were  a  number 
of  promissory  notes,  the  following  are  the  names  of  the 
signers  given  in  order  to  record  some  more  of  the  early 
families:  Thomas  and  Hugh  Lewis,  Jesse  Basco,  William 
Worthen,  Thomas  Robard,  James  Swafford,  Hezekiah  Davis 
William  Langly,  Abraham  and  Ebeneezer  Piott,  Samuel  and 
Jasper  Butcher,  Remembrance  Davis,  John  M.  Campbell, 
John  Deason,  Evan  Thompson,  Issac  and  W.  E.  Glen,  W. 
Doty,  Able  Lee,  George  Creath,  Drury  Harrington,  Isaac 
Garrett,  Adam  Fiffer,  and  Joseph  Taylor.  These  notes  were 
given  for  purchases  at  the  sale.  The  following  notice  had 
been  cut  from  a  newspaper  and  was  filed  with  the  estate 
papers,  "I  will  attend  the  proper  court  on  the  third  Monday 
in  July  next  at  Vienna,  Johnson  County,  Illinois,  for  the 
purpose  of  settling  the  estate  of  James  Worthen,  deceased. 
All  who  have  demands  against  said  estate  will  then  and 
there  present  them,  legally  authenticated,  Brownsville,  June 
7th,  1821,  signed  William  Worthen,  agent  for  Nancy 
Worthen  Administratrix. 

William  Powell's  estate  was  settled  by  his  wife,  Obed- 
ience, and  was  begun  July  18,  1815.  George  and  William 
Brazil  with  James  Hawkins  were  her  bondsmen.  There 
were  a  few  articles  offered  at  this  sale  not  already  men- 
tioned and  which  would  be  considered  out  of  the  ordinary 
at  this  time :  one  whiskey  cock,  to  King  Fisher  at  30c ;  also 
1  to  Squire  Choat,  37V2C  One  sley  was  sold  for  50c,  which 
would  be  very  cheap  for  a  sleigh,  if  there  was  a  big  snow, 
but  this  was  not  that  kind  of  a  sleigh,  this  belonged 
to  a  loom  and  was  used  in  weaving  cloth.  One  broad  ax 
was  sold  for  $4.00.  This  is  another  tool  not  now  in  use  in 
this  county,  since  the  timber  for  making  hewed  log  houses 
has  been  cut  and  sawed  into  lumber  to  make  frame  ones, 
barns  and  fences. 

The  estate  of  Robert  Smith  belonged  to  Massac  town- 
ship, as  the  papers  designate.  The  sale  was  held  September 
11,  1815.  Thomas  Larrison  had  the  business  in  charge,  and 
James  N.  Fox  was  his  security.  The  same  man,  no  doubt, 
whose  militia  company  formed  Massac  township  when  this 
county  was  organized.  Judging  from  the  amount  of  whis- 
key furnished  at  this  sale,  it  was  not  a  very  large  one,  only 
three  and  a  half  gallons  were  used.  Dr.  Holt  was  Robert 
Smith's  physician  and  his  bill  was  $6.92,  which  was  pre- 


234  A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 

sented  for  settlement.  The  deceased's  land  and  county  tax 
for  the  year  1815  was  $2.83.  The  tax  rate  was  light  com- 
pared to  the  present  rate.  Another  account  shows  the  re- 
demption of  a  town  lot  in  the  town  of  Smithland,  Kentucky. 
One  Loom,  three  reels  and  harness  for  the  loom  sold  for 
$6.00,  one  stew  pot,  $2.50,  one  Dutch  oven,  $1.50,  eight 
pewter  plates,  $3.00,  one  cotton  gin,  75c,  two  pairs  of  cotton 
cards,  $3.00,  candle  molds,  37%c,  more  evidence  of  "made 
at  home"  goods.  Judging  by  the  articles  offered,  these  peo- 
ple must  have  been  very  comfortably  situated  for  a  frontier 
family. 

The  papers  filed  in  the  case  of  Howell  Harrington's 
estate,  states  that  Esther  Harrington,  administered,  T. 
Furguson  and  G.  V.  Lusk  were  the  bondsmen,  Robert  Lacey 
and  Wood  Lampkin  were  the  appraisers.  There  are  Har- 
ringtons and  descendants  of  the  family  living  in  Massac 
and  this  county  at  the  present.  Caleb  Messer's  estate  was 
handled  by  his  wife  Delphia,  Owen  Evans  and  John  Spann 
signed  her  bond,  which  was  filed  April  28,  1814. 

William  Peterson's  estate  was  another  one  that  came 
up  for  settlement  in  1816.  He  resided  in  the  southwestern 
part  of  the  county  in  the  neighborhood  of  West  Eden,  John 
Elkins  and  George  Brazel  were  the  appraisers ;  Jane  Peter- 
son and  Thomas  Standard  had  charge  of  the  estate.  Thomas 
and  John  Peterson  were  the  securities.  This  settlement 
was  made  in  the  courts  held  in  Elvira  and  some  other 
names  connected  with  the  business  of  this  estate  were, 
Hezekiah  West,  William  Westbrooks,  Isaac  Beggs,  Thomas 
Robertson,  Rix  Carter,  and  John  Stokes.  There  are  de- 
scendants of  most  all  these  men  still  living  in  this  county. 
Two  accounts  in  the  adjustment  of  this  estate  are  quite 
noticable,  when  compared  with  the  H.  C.  L.  of  the  present. 
One  is  "The  estate  of  William  Peterson  debtor  to  John 
Deans,  for  schooling  two  children,  three  months,  cash  to 
Mclntire,  $5.00;  paid  for  board  for  the  same  time,  $12.00: 
same  estate  debtor  to  John  Dean  for  raising  and  clothing" 
two  children,  Joshua,  four  years  old,  at  his  fathers  death, 
and  Lydia,  two  years  at  the  same  time;  Joshua  six  years  till 
he  was  ten  years  old,  $10.00  per  year,  $60.00;  Lydia,  eight 
years,  until  she  was  ten  years  old,  at  the  same  price,  $80.00. 
No  doubt,  old  gossips  wagged  their  heads  and  said  at  the 
time,  "John  Dean  is  getting  rich  off  of  these  orphan  chil- 
dren." 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY  235 


An  administrators  bond  is  made  out  and  marked  "Law- 
rence administrator.  The  bond  was  dated  June,  1816,  but  it 
was  never  signed  or  rilled  out.  There  are  some  accounts  and 
receipts  that  might  be  of  interest.  Received  of  John  Lorenz 
(Lawrence)  for  Esther  Lorenz,  all  dues  and  demands  up  to 
this  date,  Jonesboro,  April  19,  1819.  Jacob  Hyberger."  The 
next  item  of  interest  because  it  appears  to  refer  to  the  Peter 
Prow,  who  was  confined  for  debt  in  our  county  about  that 
time  and  referred  to  elsewhere,  "Madam,  please  pay  to  the 
bearer  two  dollars  and  twenty-five  cents,  and  by  so  doing  you 
will  oblige  yours  and  soforth,  James  Brown.  It  being  the 
cost  accrued  on  an  execution  levied  by  George  Hunsaker  on 
the  goods  of  Peter  Prow,  and  this  shall  be  your  receipt  for 
the  same,  Esther  Lawrence,  Admr."  Wm.  Lawrence  debtor 
to  Priest  &  Menfee,  $50  for  medicine  and  attendance,  April 
27,  1816.  An  account  of  John  Kirk  for  labor  against  the 
estate  of  William  Lawrence,  was  sworn  to  before  J.  Echols, 
J.  P.  May,  1816.  Another  dated  almost  nine  years  earlier. 
August  7,  1807,  to  three  picks  and  boring  tools,  $4.00 
(could  not  decipher  the  name.)  "January  20,  1806,  Sir: 
Please  pay  unto  William  Lawrence,  two  dollars,  and  this 
my  order  shall  be  your  receipt  for  the  same,  James  Worth- 
ington,  witness,  John  Shaver."  "February  7,  1806,  re- 
ceived of  Samuel  Worthington,  two  pounds,  19  shillings  and 
6  pence,  debt  and  cost  in  full.  The  sale  note  of  James  Weir, 
by  me  Jesse  Hurley,  Constable  for  said  county."  Received 
of  Samuel  Worthington,  511  pounds  of  pork  by  Thomas 
Craig,  for  J.  Weir,  February  11,  1805.  "Henderson,  June 
1,  1808,  Received  of  William  Lawrence,  seven  and  six  pence 
which  is  to  stand  against  his  account  at  Mullenberg  for 
Will  and  Jay  Bradford,  John  Russell."  These  towns  were 
in  Kentucky. 

William  McGowan  died  in  1816.  Thomas  Green  was 
the  administrator  Silas  Risley  and  Owen  Evans  were  the 
bondsmen,  a  few  articles  out  of  the  ordinary  disposed  of  at 
the  sale  were,  1  bay  mare  and  bell,  $25.00;  4  patterns  lea- 
ther shoe  uppers,  $1.50;  1  curry  comb,  25c;  1  pair  leather 
breeches,  50c;  2  coats,  50c  each;  to  B.  Revell.  pack  saddle, 
62i/>c;  1  pair  specks,  $1.62;  pair  saddle  bags  $2.78%  ;  1  set 
of  razors,  87c.  A  statement  sworn  to  before  John  Weldon, 
a  justice  for  Johnson  County  and  witnessed  by  Hugh  Erwin 
April  12,  1816  states  that,  "William  McGown  boarded  with 
Mikel  Revell  from  May  1,  1815,  to  November  7,  at  the  rate 


236  A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


of  three  dollars  per  month;  for  attending  McGowan  from 
November  7  till  December  18th  at  which  time  he  died, 
coffin  and  winding  sheet,  $15.00,  total  $30.75." 

This  is  given  that  one  may  see  the  difference  in  the 
price  of  living  and  dying  during  the  above  time  and  at  the 
present  day.  This  paper  was  marked  I  in  the  files  of  J. 
Finney,  who  was  county  clerk  at  the  time  this  estate,  was 
settled. 

A  paper  executed  in  1810.  An  account  of  Charles 
Murphy  was  presented  against  the  estate  of  Phillip  Shaver, 
the  amount  being  $4.50,  the  following  is  attached  to  the 
account,  "This  day  appeared  Charles  Murphy  before  me, 
John  Bradshaw,  one  of  the  acting  justices  for  said  county 
and  first  be  it  solemly  sworn  upon  the  Holy  Evangelist,  de- 
porteh  and  sayeth  that  the  above  account  is  just  and  true 
as  it  stands,  stated  to  the  best  of  his  knowledge  and  belief, 
Charles  M.  (X)  Murphy  (His  mark.)  Sworn  and  subscribed 
before  me  the  17th  day  of  April,  1810,  John  Bradshaw,  J. 
P.  A  bill  was  allowed  to  Esther  Lawrence,  widow  of 
William  Lawrence  for  board,  from  1814  to  1816,  showing 
Phillip  Shaver's  death  to  have  been  in  1816.  A  bill  paid  to 
J.  B.  Murry  for  crying  the  sale  of  Shaver,  names  William 
Lawrence  as  administrator.  Among  these  papers  is  what 
appears  to  be  a  blacksmith's  account.  It  is  made  out  in 
English  money  but  the  writing  looks  very  much  like  a  per- 
son's who  had  learned  to  write  German  script  before  he 
learned  to  write  English,  and  is  as  follows:  "Wilber  Law- 
rence to  bells,  19  shillings,  Moses  Cabitt,  the  same  23  shill- 
ings. George  Lawrence  to  mending  and  sharpening  shears, 
2  shillings  and  3  pence;  Samuel  to  shoeing  two  horses 
round,  18  shillings.  Thomas  Giles  to  shoeing  a  mare  around 
12  shillings,  Philander  Kuykendall  to  shoeing  horse,  .six 
shillings,  Henry  Hatten  to  making  a  set  of  wheel  irons,  3 
shillings."  There  is  no  date  on  this  paper  but  being  among 
Shaver's  papers  and  from  the  following  extract  of  the 
court  record,  would  lead  one  to  believe  that  Shaver  was 
German,  which  his  name  indicates.  In  1819  Michael  ,Shav- 
endicker  of  New  York  at  September  court  of  Johnson 
County  presented  a  petition  to  said  court  and  said,  he  was 
the  brother  of  Phillip  Shaver,  lately  of  this  county,  whose 
estate  had  been  administered  on  by  William  Lawrence,  Sr., 
and  after  his  death,  Esther  (his  wife)  and  John  Sanders, 
praying  that  their  administration  be  set  aside  and  himself 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY  23' 


as  the  legal  heir  be  appointed.     The  petition  was  granted, 
and  Richard  M.  Young,  was  the  attorney. 

"At  a  probate  court  holden  for  the  County  of  Johnson 
on  the  third  Monday  in  the  month  of  June,  1822,  before 
James  Finney,  Judge  of  said  court,  John  Copeland,  admin- 
istrator of  the  estate  of  William  Copeland  deceased  came 
into  court  and  presented  his  accounts  with  said  estate  and 
the  following  sums  were  allowed  against  the  said  estate; 
to-wit:  for  money  paid  judge  of  probate  for  letters  of  ad- 
ministration and  settling  said  estate,  $7.50,  to  money  to 
Calib.  E.  Isum  for  a  coffin,  $6,  for  crying  sale,  $5.50,  money 
paid  James  Lizenby,  50c,  money  paid  Irving  Morris,  sheriff, 
60c,  money  expended  to  go  to  Tennessee  twice  on  business 
for  estate,  $34.58,  for  administrators  percentage  for  col- 
lecting $19.24,  Thomas  Douglas'  account  $3.63V2,  whole 
amount  of  the  estate  $192.54%,  credits  $74.54%,  and 
$18.8914.  It  appeared  to  the  court  that  there  remained  in 
the  hands  of  the  said  John  Copeland,  administrator  as 
aforesaid,  a  sum  of  $118.59  of  said  estate  which  he  is  order- 
ed to  pay  over  to  the  heirs  of  the  said  William  Copeland, 
deceased,  in  equal  ratio.  It  appearing  that  there  were  six 
in  number;  to-wit;  Betsy  Dial,  John  Copeland,  Martha  Dial, 
Samuel  Copeland,  Sally  Little,  and  Jane  Hobbs  to  each  of 
the  above  named  legatee,  the  amount  being  $19.81  i/2- 

Richard  McGinnis  sale  occured  in  1823  and  the  list 
shows  the  high  price  of  househould  articles  existing,  1  large 
kettle,  $7.00,  1  small  pot  $2.50,  1  broken  skillet  $1.00,  1 
large  oven,  lids  and  hooks  $3.00,  pot  hangers  $3.00.  Mrs. 
McGinnis  evidently  did  not  have  a  cook  stove.  A  rifle  gun 
sold  for  $10.00.  William  Barton,  Jacob  Willis,  Lucas  S. 
Gibbs  and  Polly  Bane  are  among  the  names  as  purchaser. 
There  is  a  note  given  to  the  president  and  directors  of  the 
state  bank  and  negotiable  at  their  branch  bank  at  Browns- 
ville. This  is  some  of  the  famous  state  bank  paper  issued 
at  that  time. 

The  settlement  of  the  estate  of  Richard  Cox  was  begun 
November,  1824.  William  Cox  and  the  widow  Mary  Cox 
were  the  executors.  There  are  a  few  articles  in  this  sale 
a  little  different  from  others  mentioned  in  this  period.  One 
steel  trap  brought  $3.05,  ink  stand  and  snuffers,  25c,  lantern 
I2V2C,  hackle  30c.  Some  names  connected  with  the  notes 
and  receipts  of  this  sale  are  as  follows;  Lancaster  Cox, 
Israel   Bozarith,   Franklin  Perry,   William   Fellows,   Jesse 


238  A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


Miles,  James  Harman,  Richard  McKenny,  William  Corbitt, 
James  Haley,  Robert  Griffith,  Joseph  Montgomery.  Henry 
Eddy  was  an  attorney  interested  in  the  settlement  of  this 
estate.  Willis  Hancock,  William  McFatridge,  Champion 
Anderson  and  William  Thornton  were  the  J.  P.s  in  most 
cases  where  the  oath  was  taken.  Joseph  Kuykendall,  J.  P. 
also  took  some  of  the  acknowledgements.  There  is  a  re- 
ceipted account  of  Dr.  Sim,  presumably  of  Golconda,  also 
a  medical  bill  of  B.  W.  Brooks,  and  William  Slack.  Richard 
Cox  must  have  emigrated  from  North  Carolina,  since 
there  is  a  note  payable  in  North  Carolina  paper,  also  some 
notes  collected  by  the  administrator  from  parties  living  in 
that  state.  Another  bill  allowed  by  the  court  was  to  Mary 
and  Martin  Howell  for*the  supporting  and  instructing  of 
six  children  of  Richard  Cox  deceased,  for  the  term  of  one 
year  and  eight  months,  the  amount  was  $120.00,  dated  July 
21,  1826.  This  would  give  rise  to  the  opinion  that  the 
widow  Mary  Cox,  had  married  Martin  Howell.  The  follow- 
ing is  a  letter  which  explains  itself  and  is  used  for  its 
quaintness,  "Illinois  Union  County,  August  10,  1827,  Re- 
spected friend,  James  Finney,  Esq.,  After  my  best  respects 
to  thee  I  -write  these  few  lines  to  let  thee  know  it  is  not  con- 
venient for  me  to  attend  court  according  to  adjournment, 
which  is  on  the  11th  instant,  but  that  need  not  make  any 
difference.  Thee  can  proceed  to  make  the  settlement.  I 
have  nothing  more  to  inform  thee  concerning  the  estate 
more  than  I  wish  thee  to  be  as  saving  to  the  estate  as  pos- 
sible, in  regard  to  allowing  charges  for  raising  the  heirs. 
About  twelve  months  ago  I  could  have  had  them  raised  and 
kept  on  twelve  months  for  fifty  dollars  and  on  August  21st 
I  informed  Martin  Howell,  that  I  could  have  the  heirs  sup- 
ported for  fifty  dollars  and  he  continued  to  keep  them.  I 
merely  write  this  for  information  to  thee,  if  Martin  Howell 
should  put  in  a  bill  for  a  large  charge  or  petition  for  much. 
It  is  not  convenient  for  me  to  come  for  my  family  is  not  in 
a  situation  for  me  leave  them.  Thee  can  make  out  a  bill  for 
thy  charges  and  leave  with  I.  Morris,  Esq.  or  receipt  to 
him  on  it  and  send  it  to  me  by  Thomas  Musgrave,  the 
bearer,  and  I  will  credit  thy  note  with  the  amount  after 
settling  thy  small  account  of  sale,  which  is  $139.50,  if 
correct.  Concerning  my  charge,  thee  may  see  on  the  small 
scrap  of  paper  folded  in  this  letter  a  memorandum  of  time 
spent  besides  collecting  in  and  paying  out.  If  thee  wish  to 
send  any  news  back  tell  Thomas  Musgrave  to  wait  until 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY  230 


thee  can  write.  I  wish  thee  to  push  on  the  collection  of  the 
Hancock  debt  as  fast  as  possible.  If  it  would  be  necessary 
for  me  to  be  at  the  settlement  of  the  estate  put  off  the 
settlement  a  few  weeks  and  give  me  notice  and  I  will  at- 
tend. No  more,  only  thy  friend  and  well  wisher. — William 
Cox."  One  paper  records  Mary  Howell,  formerly  Mary  Cox. 

J.  H.  G.  Wilcox  took  charge  of  the  estate  of  Calvin 
Austin  in  1827.  There  is  a  bill  to  J.  D.  Martin  as  Physician. 
An  advertisement  printed  in  a  Cincinnati  paper  as  follows : 
''If  any  of  the  relatives  or  friends  of  Calvin  Austin,  who 
lately  died  at  the  residence  of  J.  D.  Wilcox,  near  Ft.  Massac 
Illinois,  will  direct  a  letter  to  J.  D.  Wilcox,  or  leave  informa- 
tion at  the  General  Intellegence  Office,  Cincinnati,  they  can 
be  made  acquainted  with  the  circumstances  of  his  decease, 
and  of  some  of  the  property  and  papers  now  in  my  pos- 
session.— J.  D.  Wilcox,  near  Ft.  Massac." 

The  sale  list  of  this  estate  indicates  goods  belonging 
in  a  general  store,  1  Yawl  at  $45.00,  2  tomahawks,  75c, 
several  articles  were  purchased  by  Anderson  Douglas.  One 
can't  help  but  surmise  about  these  names,  and  this  would 
indicate  that  Anderson  was  the  husband  of  Elizabeth, 
Douglas  whose  estate  comes  later.  The  sale  of  tomahawks 
would  show  that  they  had  Indian  patrons.  Many  of  the 
names  connected  with  this  sale  are  the  same  as  those  of 
many  of  the  residents  of  Massac  County  at  the  present  time, 
some  of  which  are,  James  Herren,  Cornelius  Shord,  Jonah 
Teague,  James  Lard,  Amos  Hale,  Hartwell  Hart,  W.  C. 
Sisk,  Elisha  Ellis,  Carter  Lathem,  John  A.  Evers,  Jacob 
Childress,  John  L.  Henderson,  Hardy  Robinson,  Edward 
Allen,  Elija  Henly,  Nathan  Gillespie,  William  White,  John 
C.  Johnson,  Isom  Clay  and  Thomas  Roy. 

The  settlement  of  the  estate  of  Elizabeth  Douglas  oc- 
cured  in  1833  and  was  settled  through  a  will  (see  wills). 
James  Copeland  was  the  executor  and  Samuel  Copeland 
was  his  bondsman.  From  the  names  one  would  judge  that 
the  said  Elizabeth  Douglas  lived  near  the  Ohio  River,  about 
the  present  site  of  Hillerman.  Walter  Astin,  William 
Parker,  whose  home  was  appointed  a  voting  place  for 
Massac  precinct  a  few  years  before)  Adam  Cochran 
George  Brazel  and  Eliakin  Russell  were  the  appraisers.  M. 
and  Cal.  Hitchcock,  James  and  Jesse  Jones,  Joel  Hobbs, 
Thomas  Pitt,  W.  S.  Gorden,  A.  D.  Whitten,  Thomas  Har- 


240  A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


rington.  Some  articles  of  sale  and  prices,  1  tin  trumpet, 
I2V2C,  1  trivet,  Sl%cf  a  trivet  is  a  small  iron  frame  with 
three  legs  to  set  near  the  open  fire,  so  that  hot  coals  could 
be  put  under  it  to  boil  things  slowly  or  keep  them  warm, 
at  present  they  are  made  of  silver  to  put  under  hot  dishes, 
1  meal  bag  and  bed  cord,  12V&C,  a  bed  cord  was  used  on 
old  fashioned  bed  steads  in  lieu  of  slats  or  springs,  being 
laced  across  the  stead  to  support  the  bedding,  1  bed  quilc, 
$2.50,  1  plain  cherry  chest,  $1.00,  1  demijohn,  $1.00,  1  small 
oven  and  lid,  75c,  1  barrel  of  Irish  potatoes,  75c.  A  bill 
allowed  against  this  estate,  'The  estate  of  Elizabeth  Doug- 
las, deceased  to  Mary  Cochran,  Dr.  1832  to  a  balance  due 
on  a  cow,  $5.50,  to  eight  pounds  of  butter  $1.00,  to  finding 
leather  and  making  a  pair  of  shoes  621//2C  State  of  Illinois, 
Johnson  County,  this  day  came  Jesse  Cochran  before  me 
and  upon  his  oath  says  as  follows,  I  do  swear  that  the  above 
accounts  against  Elizabeth  Douglas  are  just  and  correct  to 
the  best  of  my  knowledge  and  belief,  given  under  my  hand, 
Jesse  Cochan,  sworn  to  and  subscribed  before  me  this  22 
day  of  October,  1834,  J.  Copeland.  J.  P."  Some  accounts 
due  the  estate,  Elizabeth  Hitchcock,  $42.06*4,  Burrell  An- 
derson $2,621/2,  John  L.  Cooper  $25.25,  W.  B.  Donaghy, 
371/oc 

The  estate  of  James  Robertson  was  settled  at  the  hands 
of  Nathaniel  Richardson.  William  Hayle,  and  Jesse  Rich- 
ardson were  the  bondsmen  and  J.  Copeland,  S.  G.  Allen  and 
James  Hitchcock  were  the  appraisers.  The  live  stock  sold 
at  this  sale  a  little  higher  than  twenty  years  before.  One 
lot  of  cord  wood,  supposed  to  be  eighty-seven  cords  sold  for 
$108.75  about  a  $1.25  a  cord. 

The  estate  of  William  Duncan  was  settled  in  1840. 
James  P.  Duncan  was  the  administrator,  William  McMahan 
and  Hiram  Kelly  the  security  on  his  bond,  Hames  Hayes, 
the  crier  at  this  sale,  Henry  Thomas  and  William  Richy  the 
clerks.  Wheat  sold  at  $1.00  per  bushel,  fodder,  100  bundles 
$1.00,  bacon  10c  per  pound,  1  mattock  50c,  1  lot  of  flax  50c, 
1  yoke  of  steers  $20.00,  1  gun  and  pouch  $5.31  V2,  4  bushel 
of  meal  and  grinding  $1.00.  Newcomers  to  the  county 
whose  names  are  connected  with  this  estate  were,  William 
Duncan  in  account  with  John  Bain,  December  25,  1840,  to 
two  spelling  books  37V^c,  William  Mounts,  James  Lasley, 
James  Thornton,  John  W.  Jones,  William  Harper,  Wesley 
Branscomb,  Samuel  Roper,  G.  W.  Chapman.    A.  Colter  pub- 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY  241 


lished  the  administrators  notice  in  the  "Illinois  Republican" 
a  paper  published  in  Shawneetown.  The  receipt  shows 
July,  1841.  The  following  letters  are  with  the  papers  of 
this  estate  written  in  a  good  hand  writing  and  plain  as 
though  written  yesterday,  July  8,  1841.  "Dear  Sir :-  Yours 
of  the  5th  has  just  come  to  hand  and  is  all  correct.  I  en- 
close you  a  certificate  and  receipt.  Can  you  get  us  some 
good  subscribers  down  there?  Yours  obediently,  A.  Coul- 
ter." The  price  of  whiskey  was  25c  per  half  pint  in  1840, 
interest  rates  were  12%.  In  1841  Polly  Carmicheal  gave 
bond  to  administer  on  the  estate  of  John  Carmicheal.  J.  T. 
Collier,  G.  W.  Pagget,  and  Samuel  Limberlake  were  her 
securities. 

Hannah  Wise  administered  on  the  estate  of  William 
Wise  in  1842.  Jesse  Fain,  Wiley  Wise  and  Charles  Reid 
were  the  appraisers. 

The  estate  of  John  Finney  was  settled  in  1843,  through 
a  will  which  is  found  under  Wills,  by  William  Slack,  in 
1844,  Judith  L.  Ireland  administered  on  the  estate  of  Alex- 
ander Ireland.  Joseph  Street  and  James  M.  Davidge  were 
her  securities.  The  bond  was  filed  July  18.  1844.  The  ap- 
praisers were  W.  B.  and  B.  S.  Smith  and  Henry  Jones. 
The  following  names  of  the  signers  of  notes  and  receipts 
will  give  some  of  the  citizens  residing  here  at  that  time,  S. 
J.  Chapman,  C.  J.  Ladd,  B.  F.  Furlong,  Joah  and  James  Mc- 
Coy, W.  J.  Gibbs,  W.  B.  Donaghy,  J.  S.  Mabry,  Reid  Smoot, 
S.  Short,  Jr.,  B.  S.  Gray,  G.  Young,  Thos.  Gore,  John  Simp- 
son, N.  B.  Jennett,  T.  J.  Church  &  Co,  R.  Elkins,  Carter 
Lathem,  Joshua  Elkins  and  Nimrod  Hazelwood.  The  rate 
of  interest  on  the  notes  of  this  estate  was  12%.  Some 
articles  in  the  accounts,  551  pounds  of  flour  sold  at  2c  per 
pound,  120  bushels  coal  at  8c  a  bushel,  1  days  gathering 
corn  50c,  1  spool  thread  12%c. 

The  estate  of  Nicholas  Choat  was  settled  1845,  with 
Benjamin  Choat  as  administrator  and  Absolam  Choat  as 
security.  The  appraisers  were  G.  W.  Oglesby,  Philander 
Yandell  and  Nathaniel  Rushing.  A  new  name  or  two 
occurs  in  this  connection  Milton  Lucas,  A.  Vickers,  James 
O'Neal.  James  Gibbs  was  the  crier.  There  are  a  few 
articles  sold  not  given  in  other  sales,  millstones  $6.25,  1 
still  $1.25,  1  improvement  $27.00.  This  still  would  certainly 
bring  more  than  a  dollar  and  a  quarter  at  this  time,  1924. 

Items  from  the  sale  of  the  estate  of  John  Shearer,  1848 


242  A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 

1  gray  horse  $20.00,  3  dry  cows  $18.00,  1  white  sow  and 
thirteen  pigs  $/.00,  1  shovel  plow  and  coulter,  $2.00,  1 
stump  mill  $1^.00,  Corn  20c  per  busnel  oats  and  rodder. 
100  bundles,  $1.00. 

The  estate  of  Alfred  Bridges,  1852,  was  settled  almost 
three  quarters  of  a  century  ago.  The  appraiseis  were  B. 
S.  Smith,  D.  S.  Kincy  and  lsum  Dunn.  The  descendants  of 
these  men  are  familiar  to  all  at  the  present  time.  John  ti. 
Bridges  was  the  administrator.  Among  the  papeis  was  a 
bond  given  Alfred  Bridges  by  George  Carter  ana  James 
Burton,  signed  the  8th  day  of  November,  1839  for  live 
stock.  There  were  several  receipts  which  date  back  to  the 
thirties,  one  from  Filed  &  Dunn  dated  December  1,  1834, 
one  dated  December,  1830,  signed  by  Williard  &  Co.  Ihis 
was  an  account  collected  for  them  from  Mary  McGinnis. 
Another  of  the  same  kind  with  the  names  of  David  Woreii 
and  Reuben  Stone.  Some  of  this  money  was  paid  in  United 
Sates  paper  number  2617.  The  following  is  1845  paper 
signed  by  Frederick  Turner,  Millington  Smith,  Frederick 
and  George,  some  1836  paper  signed  by  Richard  Eikins, 
Elias  Harell.  Alfred  Bridges  served  as  a  constable  and 
there  are  some  suits  named  with  no  date,  Thomas  Phillips 
vs.  J.  W.  Laurens,  Anson  Gurley,  Sr.  and  Jr.,  P.  Horner, 
Wiley  Mathis,  Jackson  Murrie,  Jones  and  Reynolds  vs.  Wm. 
Bowman  and  Cameron.  There  is  a  certificate  of  election 
of  Alfred  Bridges  to  the  office  of  constable  for  Vienna 
precint  on  the  17th  day  of  June,  1848,  D.  Y.  Bridges  clerk. 
One  other  paper  of  honor  states  that  "This  is  to  certify  that 
Alfred  Bridges,  a  private  in  Captain  Taply  B.  Andrew's 
Co.,  R.  T.  V.  M.  G.  M.  has  served  a  term  of  five  months  as 
a  volunteer  on  an  expedition  against  the  Seminole  Indians. 
He  carries  with  him  the  thanks  and  gratitude  of  his  com- 
manding officer  and  merits  the  applause  of  his  countrymen, 
and  is  hereby  honorably  discharged.  Columbia,  June  30, 
1818,  signed  Thomas  Williamson,  Col.  2nd  R.  T.  V.  M. 

The  estate  of  Peter  H.  Cummins  was  before  the  court 
in  1853  and  the  administrator  was  Daniel  T.  Cummins.  His 
widow  was  named  Harriet.  The  appraisers  were  J.  P. 
Shelton,  William  M.  Jackson  and  N.  Comer.  Some  of  the 
names  connected  with  the  estate  were  Richard  and  Ben- 
jamin Thompson,  George  Cummins,  John  Harris,  S.  Rain- 
water, H.  H.  Emerson,  William  Williams  and  Thomas  Rice. 
The  rate  of  interest  on  notes  at  this  date  was  10  rr . 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY  243 


At  the  sale  of  John  C.  Harrell,  March  10,  1852,  1  loom 
and  appendages,  sold  for  $1.00;  1  spinning  wheel  sold  for 
50c,  1  pair  of  cards,  30c,  showing  that  the  home  manufac- 
ture of  cloth  was  becoming  less  universal ;  1  stone  hammer, 
20c;  I  grind  stone,  20c;  1  "chist"  $1.40. 

At  W.  H.  Price's  sale  1854,  five  hundred  feet  of  lumber 
sold  to  William  Perkins  at  84c;  460  feet  of  walnut  lumber 
to  D.  H.  Bruck  at  $1.50  per  hundred;  1  log  chain  and  1  ox 
yoke,  $2.10,  1  carriage  to  Josiah  Throngton  $125.  Some 
items  from  the  sale  of  Francis  M.  Weaver,  which  occured  in 
1855,  8,000  shigles  at  $2.30,  1  silver  watch  $6.55,  1  history 
of  North  America,  $1.59.  At  Louis  Wise's  sale,  1863,  1  ox 
wagon  sold  for  $10.00,  2  yoke  of  oxen  sold  to  Samuel  Glass- 
ford  for  $72.00,  1  barrel  whiskey,  a  quantity  of  candy  and 
tobacco,  only  brought  $28.00,  1  keg  of  wine  $5.50,  1  barrel 
of  raw  whiskey  $15.00. 

In  1860,  Dr.  George  Bratton  received  for  the  care  of 
W.  L.  Gillespie  $25.25.  This  same  estate  was  debtor  to 
John  Gillespie,  for  board,  washing,  and  attention  through 
sickness,  $20.00  per  month.  A  promissory  note  found  in  the 
papers  of  Nathan  Allen,  a  free  Negro  living  in  the  western 
part  of  the  county  where  some  of  his  descendants  still  re- 
side, "On  or  before  the  first  day  of  December  next  I  promise 
to  pay  Nathan  Allen,  the  sum  of  twelve  dollars  and  fifty 
cents,  which  may  be  discharged  in  corn  at  the  county  sell- 
ing price  for  value  received  of  him :  Wit.  my  hand  and  seal, 
this  the  19th  day  of  August,  1846— Thomas  Stokes."  This 
shows  corn  to  be  a  legal  tender  at  that  time,  in  the  county. 

Some  items  of  the  sale  of  Henry  Brinkley,  1873,  1  cook 
stove  and  vessel,  $19.00,  30  bushel  wheat  at  30c  per  bushel, 
300  bushel  corn  at  40c  per  bushel,  2,500  pounds  of  salt 
pork,  $125.00.  During  the  winter  of  1868,  James  Miller 
received  ten  dollars  for  feeding  and  caring  for  the  stock 
for  one  month  from  Nancy  Swales.  This  estate  was  also 
indebted  to  J.  A.  Culver,  $6.00  for  a  coffin. 

Matthew  Mathis'  estate  was  settled  in  1838,  Rebecca 
and  Henry  Y.  Mathis  were  the  administrators.  The  amount 
of  their  bond  was  $3,050.00.  Wilson  Mathis  was  a  signa- 
ture on  a  note. 

Bennett  Jones'  estate  was  settled  1841  and  William  B. 
Donaghy  was  one  of  the  appraisers. 


244  A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


Green  P.  Finney  died  in  1863,  his  estate  was  administ- 
ered on  by  John  Slack.  Rachael  was  his  wife,  children, 
William  N.  John  M.  and  Gilbert. 

Susanna  Borin,  wife  of  Bazel  Borin.  Hoseah  Borin 
was  administrator  of  Bazel  Borin's  estate  1813.  Children 
of  Susanna  were  Mourning  and  Coleman. 

Recommendations  given  to  these  men  on  leaving 
their  former  homes,  which  seems  to  have  been  a  custom  in 
early  times.  State  of  North  Carolina,  Moore  County: 
Where  as  the  bearer,  Jacob  Harvick,  has  signified  to  us  his 
intention  of  removing  himself  arid  family  to  the  frontier  of 
Georgia,  be  it  therefore  known  to  whom  it  may  concern, 
that  the  said  Harvick  has  been  a  resident  of  the  county  for 
upwards  of  eight  (indistinct).  Citizen  supported  an  irre- 
proachable character,  maintained  his  family  in  honesty 
and  credit,  worthy  to  be  received  as  a  neighbor  or  admitted 
as  a  worthy  character  into  any  Christain  society;  he  being 
a  peaceable,  sober  and  well  disposed  man.  Given  under  our 
hands,  this  3rd  day  of  October,  1795."  (Signatures  were 
indistinct  since  the  writing  was  in  ink.) 

State  of  North  Carolina,  Wayne  County.  This  is  to 
certify  unto  all  persons  whom  it  may  concern  that  Joel 
Harrell  hath  signified  unto  us,  that  he  has  in  mind  to  travel 
to  the  westward,  and  we,  the  undersigned  being  well  ac- 
quainted with  him  from  his  youth,  do  recommend  him  as 
a  good  honest  citizen  and  hope  that  he  may  be  received  and 
pass  as  such.  Given  under  our  hand  this  20th  day  of  Au- 
gust, 1819,  S.  Sassee,  J.  P.  Edward  Sassee,  J.  P.  Joshua 
Hasting,  J.  P.  and  P.  J.  Mustgraves,  J.  P. 

WILLS 

The  first  will  of  record  in  the  county  "In  the  name  of 
God,  Amen :  I  William  Peterson,  of  Johnson  County,  Illinois 
Territory,  being  weak  in  body  but  blessed  be  God  of  sound 
mind  and  memory  and  seeing  my  dissolution  drawing  near 
do  make  this  my  last  will  and  testament,  thereby  revoking 
all  former  wills  or  disposition  of  my  earthly  goods  hereto- 
fore made.  First  I  direct  my  body  to  be  buried  in  a  Chris- 
tian and  decent  manner  and  my  soul  I  commend  to  God 
who  gave  it,  in  joyful  hope  blessed  be  God  of  a  happy  im- 
mortality in  heaven.  As  to  my  earthy  goods,  God  has  given 
me  I  dispose  and  devise  them  in  the  following  manner:-  i 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY  245 


direct  that  all  my  property  of  any  kind,  real  or  personal,  be 
held  and  kept  in  the  hands  of  and  in  the  possession  of  my 
beloved  wife,  Mary  Peterson,  for  her  use  and  the  support 
and  education  of  my  infant  children,  all  except  a  bay  filly 
with  a  blaze  face,  which  I  direct  the  trustees,  I  shall  here- 
after mention,  to  give  to  my  son  Joshua,  when  he  arrives 
at  an  age  sufficient  to  manage  for  himself.  I  do  hereby 
appoint  my  brother-in-law  Hezekiah  West,  William  Peter- 
son and  Thomas  Peterson  trustees  to  take  care  and  see  that 
this  my  last  will  and  testament,  be  carried  into  effect,  and 
also  I  wish  and  hereby  appoint  them  guardians  to  and  for 
my  infant  children,  namely  Elizabeth,  Joshua,  and  Sally, 
hereby  authorizing  and  requiring  the  above  mentioned  trus- 
tees to  attend  to  the  requisition  to  this  my  last  will  and 
testament,  which  I  do  hereby  sign  and  acknowledge  before 
the  trustees  after  the  same  has  been  read  in  my  hearing. 
Wit:-  my  hand  and  seal,  this  the  22  day  of  February,  1815. 
William  Peterson,  Sr.  witnesses  present  John  C.  Herbison, 
Fannie  X  Osborn  and  Nancy  West. 

From  some  records  of  the  court  it  appears  this  will 
was  not  executed  as  directed.  In  1816  Thomas  Peterson 
brought  suit  against  Bennet  Hancock  and  wife  to  be  ap- 
pointed guardian  for  Joshua  Peterson,  minor  or  William 
Peterson,  Sr.  This  was  annulled  by  agrement.  A  summons 
for  William  Russell  and  Mary  McGowan  to  appear  as  wit- 
nesses for  Bennet  Hancock  against  the  heirs  of  William 
Peterson  in  1822.  An  account  of  Bennet  Hancock  presented 
August  1821,  shows  himself  as  guardian,  and  an  account 
against  the  estate  for  clothing  and  keeping  the  three  chil- 
dren, Joshua,  Elizabeth  and  Sally,  three  years  and  eight 
month  at  $25.00  a  year  $275.  An  order  of  the  court  shows 
John  Peterson  appointed  guardian  for  Josuha,  September 
term,  1820.  John  Peterson  was  appointed  guardian  for 
Sarah  Peterson,  1819.  Another  instrument  shows  Alex- 
ander McGowan  as  guardian  for  Elizabeth,  a  minor  of 
William  Peterson,  dated  1821.  Bennet  Hancock  was  ap- 
pointed guardian  of  Joshua  Peterson  1819." 

A  true  copy  from  the  original,  Attorney  J.  Finney, 
clerk  of  Johnson  County,  "To  all  people  to  whom  these 
presents  shall  come,  I,  Benjamin  Mcintosh  do  send  greet- 
ings: Know  ye  that,  I,  Benjamin  Mcintosh  of  the  county 
of  Johnson  and  Territory  of  Ilinois,  for  and  in  consideration 
of  the  good  will  and  affection,  which  I  have  and  do  bear 


246  A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


toward  my  children:-  I  give  to  my  daughter,  Betsy,  $5.00 
in  property,  I  give  to  Unity  one  half  dollars  worth  of  prop- 
erty, 1  give  to  Ceny  $2.00  worth  in  property,  I  give  to  Stacy 
$2.00,  1  give  my  son,  Benjamin  $2.00  worth  of  property,  all 
to  be  discharged  in  cattle  at  their  value.  I  give  my  beloved 
wife  Frances  my  gray  mare,  saddle  and  briddle,  and  the 
improvement  and  my  household  furniture,  eleven  head  of 
cattle  and  my  hogs,  and  at  my  wife  Frances  decease  the 
cattle  to  be  given  to  Joshua,  cattle  and  all  other  property. 
To  my  son  Charles  I  give  my  gray  horse,  and  all  my  work 
ing  tools,  I  give  John  Burchfield,  my  sorrel  mare,  and  I 
give  William  Smith  one  cow  and  one  fifty  dollar  note  on 
John  Lathan  and  by  these  presents  do  freely  give  and  grant 
unto  those  children  articles  mentioned.  Before  the  signers 
of  these  presents,  do  deliver  those  things  signed  with  my 
own  hand  forever,  absolutely,  without  any  manner  of  con- 
dition, in  witness  hereunto  I  have  set  my  hand  and  seal, 
this  the  17th  day  of  November,  A.  D.  1815,  signed  Benjamin 
Mcintosh,  signed,  sealed  and  delivered  in  the  presence  of 
James  Hamilton,  Charles  Claxton  and  William  Hamilton."' 
"In  the  name  of  God  Amen:  I  Nathanial  Green,  of 
Illinois  Territory,  Johnson  County,  being  very  sick  and 
weak  in  body,  but  of  perfect  mind  and  memory,  thanks  be 
given  unto  God,  calling  unto  mind  the  mortality  of  my  body, 
and  knowing  that  it  is  appointed  for  all  men  to  die,  do  make 
and  ordain  this  my  last  will  and  testament,  that  is  to  say 
say  principally  and  first  of  all,  I  give  and  recommend  my 
soul  into  the  hand  of  Almighty  God,  that  gave  it,  my  body, 
I  recommend  to  the  earth  to  be  buried  in  decent,  Christian 
burial,  at  the  discretion  of  my  executors,  nothing  doubting 
but  at  the  general  resurrection,  I  shall  receive  the  same 
again,  by  the  mighty  power  of  God,  and  as  touching  such 
earthly  estate  where  with  it  has  pleased  God  to  bless  me  in 
this  life,  I  give  demise  and  dispose  of  the  same  in  manner 
and  form,  first  I  give  and  bequeath  to  Mary,  my  dearly  be- 
loved wife,  a  certain  bay  mare  rising  of  three  years  old, 
also  I  give  to  my  well  beloved  daughter,  Nancy  Green,  a 
certain  negro  woman  named  Hannah,  also  the  rest  of  my 
property  to  be  valued  and  equally  be  divided  amongst  my 
loving  wrife  Mary  Green  and  my  loving  children,  that 
is  to  my  beloved  son  Maston  Green,  and  also  to  my  loving 
son  David  Green,  and  to  my  loving  son  William  Green,  and 
also  to  my  loving  daughter  Elizabeth  Green.  I  also  con- 
stitute and  ordain  my  well  beloved  brothers.  Parish  and 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY  247 


Thomas  Green,  Executors  of  this  my  last  will  and  testa- 
ment, witness  thereof  I  have  hereunto  set  my  hand  and  seal 
this  the  29th  day  of  January,  1813.  Signed,  Nathanial 
Green,  Test.  David  Coleman,  Robert  Tweedy,  John  Tweedy. 

Will  of  Elizabeth  Douglas,  "This  the  27th  day  of  June, 
1831,  I  being  in  low  health,  but  in  sound  mind  and  memory 
I  make  this  my  last  will  and  testament.  I  want  Squire 
James  Copeland  to  take  my  three  boys  Jackson,  William  and 
Clinton  and  raise  them,  and  after  my  debts  are  paid  and 
settled  I  give  Jackson  the  bay  mare's  colt,  the  little  sorrel, 
then  I  want  Mr.  Copeland  to  take  the  rest  of  my  property 
and  to  do  the  best  he  can  for  my  children,  in  the  name  of 
the  Lord,  I  give  the  balance  to  J.  Copeland  to  raise  the  chil- 
dren, and  this  is  my  last  will  and  testament.  Signed  Eliza- 
beth Douglas,  Test.  Hiram  Shocklea  Thomas  Harrington." 

State  of  Illinois,  Johnson  County,  October  20,  1820, 
"In  the  name  of  God,  Amen,  I,  Abner  Cox,  being  in  low 
circumstances  in  bodily  health,  but  feeling  myself  in  sound 
mind  and  memory,  I  do  hereby  make  this  my  last  will  and 
testament:  To  my  dear  beloved  wife,  Mary  Cox  I  give  into 
her  possession  at  this  time  with  all  property  and  money  that 
is  in  my  possession  at  this  time,  with  all  the  money  that  is 
coming  to  me  in  North  Carolina.  My  will  is  that  all  the 
money  that  I  now  have  and  the  money  that  is  coming  to  me 
should  be  given  for  land  in  this  state  for  the  use  of  my  wife 
and  children.  My  will  is  that  my  wife  should  hold  the  pos- 
session during  her  life  or  widowhood  and  at  her  marriage 
or  death  all  to  be  equally  divided  amongst  my  children  and 
wife.  The  two  half  quarters  that  I  now  have  paid  for  of 
land  lying  in  Union  County,  my  will  is  that  my  son  Abner 
Cox  should  have  the  two  half  quarters  of  land,  besides  the 
other  division  to  him  his  heirs  and  assignees,  also  my  will 
is  that  my  wife  should  have  out  of  the  money  as  much  of 
it  as  will  be  necessary  for  her  to  fix  herself  and  family  to 
live  comfortably  upon,  also  the  money  that  is  coming  to 
me  from  S.  J.  Chapman,  my  will  is  that  my  wife  should 
collect  it  as  she  can.  I  constitute  and  appoint  my  wife 
executrix  to  this  my  last  will  and  testament,  assigned  Abner 
Cox,  witnesses,  E.  Harrell,  Joel  Howell,  and  John  Veach." 

Notes  taken  from  Randolph  County  records  at  Chester 
Illinois  before  Johnson  County  was  separated  from  it,  con- 
taining names  of  Johnson  County  families. 


248  A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNIT 


George  Fisher  name  on  record,  1802 ;  Robert  Cox  name 
on  record,  1805;  Richard  Lord  vs.  Isaac  Cox,  1892,  Moses 
Oliver  vs.  Leroy  Elliot,  1802. 

William  Elms  seal  on  a  deed,  1797,  from  James  Dunn 
to  John  Edgar,  Deed  1905  John  Kennedy  only  son  and  heir 
to  David  Kennedy  who  entered  land  from  Congress  1790 
on  the  improvement  of  James  Taylor.  (Elms  is  a  name  of 
the  early  Johnson  County)  William  Dunn  vs.  William 
Kelly  case  of  Treaspass  brought  before  George  Fisher  and 
Samuel  Cochran  judges  1806.  William  Cochran  had  a 
court  case,  1803;  Charles  B.  Wilcox,  1803;  Joseph  Worley 
court  case,  1805. 

Court  record  No.  25  John  Price  vs.  James  Finny  1806 
a  case  of  treaspass  amount  $160.00.  Robert  Morris  clerk, 
James  Edgar  sheriff,  Pierre  Menard,  George  Fisher  and 
Samuel  Cochran,  judges.  Finny  recovered  $7,001/2  for  his 
cost  and  charges.  Lary  Oliver  adminstrator  of  William 
Dunn,  deceased,  John  Worley  and  John  Murdoc  connected 
with  the  case,  1807.  William  Simpson  sued  Hampton  Pan- 
key  for  $300.00,  1808.  James  Oliver,  a  minor  by  his  next 
friend  John  Worley  vs.  Primal  Hayward,  a  case  of  slander. 

1809.  Thomas  Jones  vs.     Henry  Jones,  damage  $200.00, 

1806.  Thomas  Elliot  vs.  Absalem  Bradshaw,  debt  $50.00, 

1807.  William  Simpson  vs.  Elisha  Hicks,  lawsuit,  1809. 
James  Finny  and  William  Greenup  administered  on  the 
estate  of  Moses  Oliver,   1808.     Jesse  Kennedy,  law  suit, 

1810.  King  Hazel  law  suit,  1809. 

Grand  jury  September,  1809:  Issac  White,  foreman, 
Samuel  Cochran,  William  Simpson,  John  Morris,  John  Hib- 
bins,  William  Choffin,  John  Worley,  Ephriam  Bilderbeck, 
Josiah  Cox,  Jacob  Bowerman,  William  Stiles,  William 
Murphey,  John  Phelps,  Thomas  Griffin,  Samuel  Andelway, 
James  Stell,  Ghershom  Clementson,  Alexander  Blair,  and 
William  Alexander.  Cochran,  Simpson,  Morris,  Worley, 
Cox,  Stiles  and  Phelps  are  all  names  of  families  of  early 
settlers  of  this  county. 

A  grand  jury  of  Randolph  County,  1808 :  William  Alex- 
ander, John  Worley,  James  Henderson,  William  McLaugh- 
lin, John  Everett,  Robert  Kidd,  Ralph  Drury,  Alexander 
McNabb,  John  Crawford,  Joseph  McCourtney,  Joseph  Arch- 
ambeau,  B.  Forture,  Jacob  Funk,  William  Evere,  John  Dees 
and  Reuben  Lacy.    Kidd  and  Lacy  of  Massac  County  fam- 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY  249 


ilies.  John,  a  free  negro  boy  vs.  Robert  Patterson  by  his 
next  friend  John  Edgar.  James  Weir  vs.  John  Borin  a 
plea  of  debt  1810. 

COURT  RECORDS 

The  first  court  of  Johnson  County — Proceedings  of 
a  special  court  held  at  the  house  of  John  Bradshaw,  within 
and  for  the  County  of  Johnson  for  the  purpose  of  doing 
county  business,  on  the  fifteenth  day  of  January,  1813. 
Present:  The  Honorable  Hamlet  Furguson,  Jesse  Griggs, 
Judges:  The  court  having  taken  into  consideration  the 
necessity  of  dividing  this  county  into  townships  agreeably 
to  a  law  of  this  territory,  authorizing  the  judges  of  the 
court  of  common  pleas,  to  make  such  division  when  it  ap- 
pears to  them  to  be  necessary;  proceeded  with  an  s$t  off 
the  townships  in  the  following  manner,  to-wit :  The  district 
that  lies  at  the  eastern  corner  of  this  county  on  the  Big 
Bay  waters  and  at  present  known  by  the  name  of  Captain 
Whiteside's  Company  and  agreeably  to  the  boundaries  of 
said  company,  as  laid  off  by  a  board  of  officers,  shall  be 
created  into  one  township  and  called  the  Township  of  Big 
Bay.  And  the  company  of  Captain  Grifith's  on  Muddy  in 
like  manner  and  agreeably  to  the  boundaries  thereof,  shall 
be  called  and  known  hereafter  by  the  name  of  the  Township 
of  Muddy.  And  the  company  boundaries  of  John  Bradshaw 
shall  be  called  and  known  by  the  name  of  the  Township  of 
Center.  Captain  Green's  Company  in  like  manner  shall 
be  known  by  the  name  of  Clear  Creek  Township.  Captain 
Lamb's  Company  shall  be  known  by  the  name  of  Cache. 
And  Captain  Fox's  Company  shall  be  known  by  the  name 
of  Massac  township.  Ordered  that  William  Penny  and 
Thomas  Furguson  be  appointed  overseers  of  the  poor  for 
the  township  of  Big  Bay;  Clement  Davis  and  Henry  Noble 
overseers  of  the  poor  for  the  township  of  Muddy ;  Owen 
Evans  and  John  B.  Murry  overseers  of  the  poor  for  the 
township  of  Center ;  William  Joslin  and  George  Wolf,  over- 
seers of  the  poor  for  the  township  of  Clear  Creek ;  Federick 
Talbot  and  Joseph  Kuykendall  overseers  of  the  poor  for  the 
township  of  Cache;  Jonah  Hibbs  and  John  Prichard  over- 
seers of  the  poor  for  the  township  of  Massac.  Ordered 
that  John  Damsil  be  appointed  Constable  in  the  township 
of  Big  Bay  and  N.  Hukam  in  the  same  on  his  giving  bond 
agreeably  to  law;  Meeks,  Constable  of  Muddy;  Amos  Bar- 
ker and  Henry  Giles,  Constables  for  the  township  of  Center. 


250  A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


Jeremiah  Brown  Constable  for  the  township  of  Clear  Creek 
Andrew  Kidd  and  James  B.  Johnson  appointed  Constables 
for  the  township  of  Massac.  Ordered  on  motion  of  Susan- 
nah Borin  by  her  attorney,  Thomas  C.  Brown,  that  a  scire- 
faces  is  issued  against  Hoseah  Borin  to  appear  at  our  next 
September  term  to  show  cause  why  letters  of  administra- 
tion granted  him  by  the  court  of  the  counjty  in  vacation 
should  not  be  repealed.  Henry  Giles  came  into  court  and 
prayed  leave  of  the  court  for  indulgence  until  next  Septem- 
ber term  to  make  return  of  his  inventory  and  sale  list  of 
the  estates  of  Samuel  Giles  and  Thomas  Winkler,  which  he 
was  bound  to  do  at  this  court  as  administrator  of  said 
estates.  Ordered  that  leave  be  granted  accordingly.  The 
sheriff  is  authorized  to  contract  with  John  Bradshaw  or  any 
other  person  for  building  a  stray-pound,  furnished  with  a 
lock  and  gate  according  to  law,  to  be  erected  at  the  court 
house  by  next  September.  Giles  Stewart  produced  a  receipt 
from  the  sheriff  of  the  county  for  $15.00  for  a  deposit  for 
license  to  deal  in  merchandise  agreeably  to  law,  which  the 
clerk  is  ordered  to  issue.  On  application  of  Thomas  Furgu- 
son  to  keep  a  tavern  where  he  now  lives,  the  court  ordered 
"that  the  clerk  do  give  the  same  on  his  paying  three  dollars 
for  the  use  of  the  county  and  one  dollar  for  the  use  of  the 
clerk,"  Thomas  C.  Paterson  entering  into  bond  with  him 
as  the  law  directs.  Ordered  that  the  clerk  do  issue  a 
license  to  William  Simpson  to  keep  a  tavern  where  he  now 
lives  on  his  paying  to  the  clerk  $5.00  for  the  use  of  the 
county  and  one  for  the  use  of  the  clerk.  The  above  taverns 
are  allowed  to  charge  the  following  rates,  whiskey  12^c 
per  half  quart,  meals  victuals,  25c,  horse  feed  12V&,  hay 
12V&C,  lodging  12Vkc.  Ordered  that  this  court  be  adjourned 
until  court  in  course.  Hamlet  Furguson,  presiding  J.  C.  C. : 
Attorney  J.  Finny,  Clerk. 

At  the  September  court,  1813,  J.  Griggs  and  John  B. 
Murray  are  the  judges.  Thomas  and  Parish  Green  as  ex- 
ecutors of  the  estate  of  Nathaniel  Green  are  ordered  to  hire 
out  a  negro  girl,  full  particulars  in  "Customs."  The  other 
orders  of  this  court  are  explained  in  other  chapters  also 
those  of  the  court  of  January  14,  1814.  At  the  May  term 
1814,  John  Byers  as  commissioner,  furnished  a  list  of  tax- 
able property  of  the  county  for  the  years  1813-14.  The 
record  does  not  give  the  amount  which  would  be  very  in- 
teresting at  this  time,  one  hundred  and  ten  years   later. 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY  251 


Byers  was  allowed  two  dollars  per  day  for  his  work  and  it 
required  thirty-eight  days.  J.  Finny's  bill  for  making  the 
tax  list  was  twenty  dollars,  making  a  total  expense  of  $86.00 
Thomas  C.  Paterson  is  referred  to  in  this  court  as  sheriff; 
one  Gilbert  Marshall  was  deputized  under  Paterson  and 
took  the  oath  prescribed  against  dueling.  The  February 
court,  1815  allowed  Owen  Evans  $25.00  for  building  a  stray 
pounds,  and  T.  C.  Paterson  was  allowed  $3.00  for  keeping 
the  same  since  November,  1813.  The  first  will  is  recorded 
at  this  time.  At  the  September  term,  1815,  Jane  Morris 
was  licensed  to  keep  tavern  at  Elvira,  the  first  woman  to 
have  a  license  for  this  business  in  this  county.  On  the 
January  court  records  of  1816  the  names  of  the  Petit  Jury 
were  given  as  follows :  J.  Hawkins,  Charles  Murphy,  Bennet 
Hancock,  Benjamin  M.  Huss,  Christopher  Howlin,  Issac 
Worley,  Adam  Clapp,  John  Peterson,  Joshua  Davis,  James 
Davis,  Hoseah  Borin  and  John  Gore.  The  rate  of  tax  was 
fixed  at  this  time  on  each  horse,  mare,  mule,  or  ass  fifty 
cents  on  every  bond  servant  or  slave  one  hundred  cents; 
on  Thomas  Furguson,  Thomas  Green  and  John  Earthman's 
ferries  eight  dollars  each;  on  Charles  Bradley,  William 
Smith  ,  Hamlet  Furguson,  Reuben  Glover,  Obadiah  Russell, 
Samuel  Penrod.  and  Lewis  Crane's  ferries,  three  dollars 
each ;  William  Lawrence's  mill  on  Cache,  sixty  cents ;  quite 
a  sum  of  revenue  was  realized  to  the  county  from  ferries. 
Center  township  was  divided  at  this  time.  The  clerk  of 
the  county  was  ordered  to  furnish  a  list  of  license  granted 
tavernkeepers  in  the  county,  and  that  the  sheriff  prosecute 
all  persons  known  to  violate  the  law  retailing  spirits  with- 
out license.  The  selling  of  liquor  was  an  annoyance  in  the 
county  as  early  as  1816.  It  is  still  done  in  violation  of  the 
law,  as  the  late  prosecutions  will  show  under  our  efficient 
mayor,  Dr.  Robert  McCall,  1916,  just  one  hundred  years 
later.  Hamlet  Furguson  is  on  the  record  of  this  court  as 
sheriff.  There  is  also  a  new  judge  or  commissioner,  Marvin 
Fuller.  Up  to  this  time  Hamlet  Furguson,  Jesse  Griggs, 
John  B.  Murry  and  John  Bradshaw  had  held  the  courts. 

At  the  June  court,  1816,  Johnathan  Ramsey  was  en- 
tered as  an  attorney  having  presented  a  license  from  the 
United  States  Judges  of  the  Circuit  Court.  Another  item, 
"Cyrus  Butler  an  orphan  boy  was  bound  to  T.  C.  Paterson." 
Ordered  that  a  special  court  be  held  on  the  third  Saturday 
in  July  next  for  the  purpose  of  hearing  the  case  of  Cath- 


252  A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


erine  Circe  in  the  prison  bounds  for  debt.  An  appropria- 
tion was  made  to  build  a  bridge  across  Bradshaw  Creek. 
At  the  special  term  which  was  to  be  held  in  the  interest 
of  Catherine  Circe.  Peter  Prow,  who  was  also  confined  in 
jail  for  debt,  gave  notice  that  he  would  take  advantage  of 
the  oath  provided  for  insolvent  debtors.  Extract  from 
special  term  July,  1816:  Catherine  Circe  imprisoned  for 
debt  this  day  came  into  court  and  having  filed  and  sub- 
scribed a  schedule  agreeably  to  law;  took  the  oath,  the 
statute  provided  for  the  relief  of  insolvent  debtors.  The 
September  session,  1816,  is  about  the  same  routine. 

At  the  November  term,  1814  the  Attorney  General  for 
the  territory  not  appearing,  the  court  appointed  Robert  Mc- 
Laughlin, to  act.  The  case  for  the  theft  of  persimmon  beer 
was  disposed  of.  Another  case  was  Hoseah  Borin  vs.  Brad- 
shaw in  which  the  defendant  proved  that  Basil  Borin  gave 
the  negro  girl  in  question  to  his  daughter  Mary  Young. 
The  proof  was  made  by  John  Borin.  At  the  June  term  of 
the  same  year  at  a  circuit  court  T.  C.  Brown  was  appointed 
by  Ninian  Edwards  Governor  as  prosecuting  attorney  for 
that  district  consisting  of  Gallatin,  Edwards  and  Johnson 
Counties.  Henry  F.  Delaney  produced  a  license  to  practise 
in  the  courts  of  the  Territory. 

COURT  NOTES 

Robert  Henderson  had  James  Lutes  bound  to  him  to 
learn  the  black  smith  trade  January,  1814.  In  1816,  David 
Shearer  was  licensed  to  keep  tavern  on  Big  Bay,  William 
Lawrence  operated  and  kept  tavern  somewhere  on  Cache, 
the  same  year.  Robert  Tweedy,  John  Bowman  and  John 
McHenry  were  licensed  to  keep  tavern,  1816.  At  the  Febr- 
uary term,  1816,  Fanny  Doyle,  James  Miles,  Phillip  Shaver, 
Stephen  Quinby,  Carter  Hall,  Sarah  Bunts,  Ervin,  Gran- 
ville, and  Bud  Morris  all  drew  wages  for  guarding  the  jail. 
The  June  term  the  same  year  T.  C.  Paterson  was  allowed 
£10.00  for  his  services  as  Prosecuting  Attorney.  Jacob 
Wolfe  was  appointed  guardian  for  the  orphan  children  of 
George  Davis  to-wit:  James,  John,  Anna,  Abraham,  Wil- 
'ic>m  and  Gecrge,  all  miners.  Bennett  Hancock  was  made 
guardian  to  Elizabeth,  Sarah,  and  Josuha  Peterson,  minor 
children  of  William  Peterson.  Susannah  Borin  was  allowed 
forty-three  dollars  and  twenty-five  cents  for  the  care  of 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY  253 

Mourning  and  Coleman  Borin,  infant  children  of  Basil 
Porin. 

Another  record  of  the  court  of  1814  was  the  buying 
of  wolf  scalps  from  Charles  Shearer  and  George  Evans,  for 
which  they  paid  seventy-five  cents  each. 

At  the  January  court,  1817,  there  were  several  com- 
missioners appointed  to  assess  the  property  of  the  county 
instead  of  one,  Irwin  Morris  for  the  township  of  Elvira; 
Joseph  Palmer  for  the  township  of  Clear  Crsek ;  John  Whit- 
iker  for  Center;  William  Smith  for  Cache;  Hezekiah  West 
reported  at  this  time,  $1,345.07,  monies  collected  by  him  as 
administrator  of  the  estate  of  James  Weaver,  deceased.  He 
asked  the  court  to  instruct  how  to  dispose  of  the  money, 
which  the  court  directs  he  shall  hold  in  his  hands  until  he 
can  let  it  out  on  good  security,  according  to  law.  This  was 
a  pretty  fair  estate  for  those  days.  The  court  opened 
February  21,  1817,  Russell  E.  Heackock  was  appointed  as 
attorney  for  the  court  to  prosecute  all  violations  of  the  law 
for  the  purpose  of  regulating  taverns  and  was  allowed  the 
same  fees  as  the  attorney  of  the  District.  A  second  order 
is  made  by  the  court  for  the  regulation  of  taverns,  the  price 
of  a  meals  victuals  is  reduced  to  12 V2  cents,  brandy  is  18% 
cents  per  pint ;  cognac  25  cents  per  pint,  for  keeping  a  horse 
twenty-four  hours,  with  corn,  and  hay  or  fodder  fifty  cents. 
The  rates  on  ferries  were  readjusted  at  this  time. 

It  might  be  of  interest  to  name  some  firms  doing  busi- 
ness up  to  this  time,  beside  those  already  mentioned: 
Edward  Pointer,  Joshua  Gross,  John  Span,  George  Smiley. 
David  Brock  and  Young,  John  Martin,  Dukeson  Givens  & 
Co.,  Christopher  Sudham,  David  Shearer,  Levi  B.  Witt  & 
Co.,  John  McHenry  and  W.  D.  Fuquay,  all  these  are  re- 
corded as  purchasing  retail  license  to  sell  liquor.  A  great 
deal  of  the  county  revenue  was  obtained  from  distilleries 
at  this  time.  "On  the  cash  book  may  be  found  the  following 
entries,  William  Lawrence,  duties  on  still  $20.00;  Robert 
Hays,  duty  an  spirits  distilled,  264Yi  gallons  $66.18 ;  Link- 
horn  Harper,  tax  on  42  gallon  of  whiskey  $11.25;  John 
Whitiker,  entered  his  still  of  the  capacity  of  75  gallons  to  be 
used  in  distilling  domestic  spirits  for  five  months  to  begin 
23rd  of  March,  1817,  bond  given  for  $67.00  with  Anthony 
Morgan  and  Robert  Hargrave,  security.  Other  distilleries 
were  William  Echols,  John  Smith,  John  Grammer,  George 
Haygood,  Elija  Bryant,  and  Hazelwood  &  Darby.     This  in- 


254  A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 

eludes  all  the  merchants  and  distilleries  up  to  the  time 
when  the  territory  became  a  state.  The  name  of  Weir  & 
Campbell  appears  on  the  court  records  frequently,  but  there 
is  no  record  of  a  license  having  been  granted  them. 

The  first  grand  jury  of  record  is  as  follows:  March, 
1814.  Jesse  Eads,  foreman,  Jacob  Harvick,  Abraham  Rus- 
sell, Benjamin  Mcintosh,  David  Wright,  Jesse  Cochran, 
Joseph  Giles,  Levi  Graham,  George  Brazel,  Henderson, 
Isiah  Palmer,  William  Hubbs,  Jacob  Wolf,  Peter  Bitmesser, 
John  Grammer  John  Whitiker,  William  Lawrence,  and  J. 
N.  Fox.  At  this  court  Elias  K.  Kane  was  entered  as  an 
attorney.  March,  1814,  John  Bradshaw  is  allowed  $2.00 
for  furnishing  wood  and  building  fires  at  the  November 
term  of  court.  Jacob  Harvick  is  allowed  $8.00  for  wolf 
scalps. 

On  Wednesday,  June  28,  1815,  the  following  act  of  Con- 
gress is  recorded:  "An  act  of  Congress  regulating  and  de- 
fining the  duties  of  the  United  States  Judges  for  the  terri- 
tory of  Illinois.  It  is  allotted  to  Jesse  B.  Thomas,  to  pre- 
side in  the  first  district  circuit;  to  Wm.  Sprigg  to  preside  in 
the  second  circuit;  and  to  Stanley  Griswold  to  preside  in 
the  third  circuit."  In  June  of  the  following  year  Thomas 
Towles  is  assigned  to  preside  in  the  third  district  court. 
On  October,  1817,  among  the  transactions  of  this  court  was 
the  buying  or  paying  premiums  for  wolf  scalps  as  follows : 
James  McLain,  Moses  Davison,  Robert  Hargrave,  David 
Mclnturf,  Willis  Borin,  John  West,  Levi  Paterson,  Robert 
Lott,  Adam  Clapp,  Benjamin  Darter,  and  Samuel  Nally, 
were  each  allowed  $2.00  a  piece  for  scalps.  Anthony  Mor- 
gan $10.00  for  five  scalps,  Samuel  Penrod  $4.00  for  two 
scalps,  Elija  Wells  $5.25  and  William  Harrington  $3.00  for 
four  scalps.  Robert  Lott  seventy-five  cents  for  one,  Samuel 
Ellms,  $4.00  for  two  scalps. 

At  the  July  term  of  this  year  Hezekiah  West  is  ordered 
to  pay  over  the  money  belonging  to  the  Weaver  estate.  At 
another  court  held  in  1817,  John,  Abraham  and  Anna 
Davis  are  bound  to  Daniel  Kimmel.  These  are  the  orphan 
children  of  George  Davis.  Patsy  Clark  is  appointed  guar- 
dian for  her  two  children,  George  and  William.  John  Wel- 
don  was  made  guardian  for  the  orphan  children  Joseph, 
Abraham,  Nancy  and  Napoleon  Collins.  John  Stokes  was 
made  guardian  for  William  and  Sally,  orphans  of  Ezekiel 
Robinson. 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY  255 


At  a  court  held  in  Elvira,  Johnson  County,  March  6, 
1818,  by  Hezekiah  West,  John  Bowman,  Andrew  Cochran, 
James  Bain  and  William  McFatridge  the  commission  ap- 
pointed by  the  Legislature  to  decide  on  a  permanent  seat  of 
justice  for  this  county  reported  that  they  had  met  at  the 
house  of  James  Bain  first  Monday  in  February,  1818,  and 
after  being  sworn  to  take  in  the  geography  of  the  county 
and  the  convenience  of  the  people  adjourned  to  meet  on  the 
fourth  Monday  of  the  same  month,  after  gaining  a  perfect 
knowledge  of  the  different  situations  around  the  center  fin- 
ally determined  and  designated  a  spot  for  the  permanent 
seat  of  justice  for  the  county  on  the  S.  E.  quarter  of  sect. 
5.  township  No.  13  S.  R.  3  east  near  the  northeast  corner 
of  the  said  quarter  section.  This  report  was  made  to  the 
above  court  on  the  date  given  and  signed  by  Isaac  D.  Wilcox 
and  James  Bain.  The  donation  was  made  by  Samuel  Mc- 
Clintock,  of  Shawnetown,  Illinois.  Ty.  and  John  W.  Gore, 
George  Brazel,  James  Simpson,  Irvin  Morris  and  William 
Thornton  entered  into  the  security  of  said  bond  in  the  sum 
of  $5,000.00,  dated  March  7,  1818.  The  donation  fixed  by 
the  Legislature  was  20  acres  but  the  agreement  fixed  by 
the  court  was  30  acres  for  the  use  of  the  county  to  be  de- 
livered April  1,  1818.  Hezekiah  West  and  James  Evans 
were  made  agents  of  the  court  to  meet  the  proposition  of 
McClintock.  On  April  10,  1818,  they  met  as  agreed 
and  the  town  was  laid  out  as  follows:  "Beginning  20  pole 
due  south  of  McClintock's  quarter  (the  northeast  corner 
of  James  Bridges  lot)  running  due  west  84  pole  as  far  as 
to  embrace  the  west  brow  of  a  certain  ridge  (just  beyond 
the  Perkins  Hotel,  7th  street)  thence  due  south  (beyond  the 
John  Bain  property,  east  beyond  the  Catholic  church  and 
John  Clymore's  residence  and  north  to  the  place  of  begin- 
ning so  as  to  inclose  3o  acres  in  a  rectangle,  the  longest 
way  is  to  be  east  and  west." 

Court  1818,  J.  Finney  drew  his  yearly  salary  which 
was  $30.00  as  clerk  of  the  county.  The  expense  for  hold- 
ing the  election  of  the  delegates  to  the  Constitutional  Con- 
vention were  allowed  at  this  court.  Hezekiah  West  and 
William  McFatridge  were  elected  the  first  Monday  in  July, 
1818.  The  name  of  Vienna  was  given  the  county  seat  at 
the  July  session  of  court.  Another  item  is  the  ordering  of 
the  sale  of  city  lots  in  Vienna,  sale  to  take  place  the  third 
Monday  in  September,  1818.     At  a  special  term  of  court 


256  A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


held  August  15,  1818,  James  Bain,  Andrew  Cochran,  Will- 
iam Simpson,  T.  C.  Paterson  and  John  Copeland,  justices, 
the  report  was  made  that  the  courthouse  and  the  building 
for  the  jurors  were  complete.  They  were  received  by  the 
court  and  the  officers  of  the  county  were  orderd  to  move 
their  offices  to  the  new  building  in  the  town  of  Vienna. 

The  buying  of  wolf  scalps  is  the  first  business  recorded 
of  the  first  court  held  in  Vienna,  November,  1818.  The 
premium  was  paid  to  W.  Bivins.  Isaac  D.  Wilcox  applied 
and  received  permission  to  keep  a  tavern  at  his  store  in 
Vienna.  The  second  court  was  a  special  one,  James  Bain, 
Andrew  Cochran  and  John  Copeland,  justices,  presided. 
Irvin  Morris  as  sheriff,  settled  his  accounts  with  the  court, 
and  the  court  approved  the  sale  of  lots  at  Vienna  and  ac- 
cepted the  notes  for  the  same.  Martin  Harvick  is  allowed 
$6.00  for  acting  as  deputy  sheriff  at  the  late  election  held 
in  September.  James  Finney  was  allowed  a  like  amount  as 
clerk.  T.  C.  Paterson  and  Andrew  Cochran  received  $6.00 
each  for  acting  as  judges  at  the  same  election. 

At  the  court  held  in  June,  1819,  Randolph  Casey  on 
giving  bond  for  $150.00  paying  $4.00  for  the  use  of  the 
county, $1.00  for  the  clerk,  and  giving  John  Peterson  for 
security,  was  allowed  to  keep  tavern  in  Vienna.  Ivy  Rey- 
nolds under  like  regulations  with  William  Cavenough  as 
security,  was  likewise  licensed.  James  Jones  was  appointed 
treasurer  for  the  county.  A  payment  was  ordered  to  George 
Brazel  for  building  the  court  house  and  jury  rooms.  Irvin 
Morris  as  sheriff  was  ordered  to  have  prepared  a  conven- 
ient bar  and  bench  for  the  jury  as  well  as  other  repairs  for 
the  court  buildings.  The  county  was  beginning  to  take  on 
the  airs  of  a  first  class  court  properly  housed.  The  court 
recommended  at  this  term  Hezekiah  West,  Isaac  Worley, 
William  McFatridge  and  John  S.  Graves  to  the  governor 
for  justices  of  the  peace.  There  are  two  new  names  as 
commissioners  at  this  time,  James  Crunk,  and  David  Elms. 
September,  1819,  some  changes  were  made  in  townships,  a 
contract  was  let  for  building  a  jail,  a  stray  pound  was 
ordered  built  in  the  public  square,  full  particulars  are 
found  in  other  sections. 

At  the  April  term,  1820,  Sterling  Adams  was  granted 
a  license  to  vend  merchandise  in  the  county,  for  which  he 
paid  $10.  The  salary  of  the  sheriff  for  one  year,  $54.70,  was 
ordered  paid.     It  compares  in  no   way  with  our  present 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY  257 

sheriff's  salary  of  $1,500  and  $1,000  for  deputy  hire. 
James  Bain  and  Joseph  McCorcle  were  elected  commis- 
sioners of  the  court.  Joseph  Kuykendal,  was  appointed  to 
take  the  census  for  that  year;  James  Hawkins  built  the 
stray  pound  contracted  by  Irvin  Morris.  The  tavern  rates 
were  raised  to  37V2C  per  meal.  In  1821  Isaac  D.  Wilcox 
petitioned  the  court  to  establish  a  ferry  on  the  Ohio  River 
and  also  for  license  to  keep  tavern  at  the  same  place. 

Courts  of  1823— Jacob  Harvick  is  allowed  $8.00  for 
wolf  scalps,  James  Copeland  as  sheriff,  was  ordered  to  buy 
a  guage  to  meet  the  standard  of  the  act  passed  by  the  gen- 
eral assembly  for  the  use  of  the  county.  Joseph  McCorcle 
was  appointed  treasurer,  to  succeed  H.  West,  who  had  suc- 
ceeded James  Jones,  John  Copelsmd  was  appointed  assessor 
for  the  year  1825. 

The  first  judges  came  with  Ninian  Edwards,  and  were 
called  territorial  judges.  Jesse  B.  Thomas,  Alexander  Stew- 
art and  Obidiah  Jones  were  the  first  appointed.  Jones  and 
Stewart  soon  resigned  and  their  places  were  filled  by  Stan- 
ley Griswold  and  William  Sprigg.  These  three  judges  held 
all  the  courts  of  the  territory,  called  Supreme  or  General 
courts,  having  concurrent  jurisdiction  in  all  cases  pretain- 
ing  to  personal  property  and  real  estate,  and  exclusive 
jurisdiction  in  higher  criminal  offences  and  equity,  and  it 
was  also  a  court  of  appeals.  The  Hon.  William  Sprigg 
held  the  courts  for  Johnson  till  the  constitution  of  1818 
which  consisted  of  a  supreme  judge  and  three  associates. 
The  first  chosen  were  Chief  Justice  Joseph  Phillips,  T.  C. 
Brown,  John  Reynolds  and  William  P.  Foster  associates, 
was  adopted,  establishing  the  supreme  court.  The 
court  of  Common  Pleas  consisted  of  five  justices,  appointed 
by  the  governor.  They  met  four  times  a  year,  and  had 
charge  of  all  civil  cases.  The  territorial  law  made  it  pos- 
sible for  two  or  more  of  these  justices  to  hold  the  court. 
Johnson  was  in  the  third  judicial  district.  The  provisions 
for  courts  were  changed  from  time  to  time  by  the  legisla- 
ture, till  1848  when  the  Supreme  court  of  three  judges  was 
established,  one  to  be  elected  from  each  of  the  three  divi- 
sions of  the  state  for  nine  years.  Nine  judicial  circuits 
were  also  established,  and  each  judge  served  six  years;  two 
terms  of  circuit  court,  were  required  held  annually  in  each 
county.  In  1877  the  number  of  circuits  were  increased  by 
creating  thirteen  circuits  of  three  judges  each.     In  1879 


258  A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


the  circuits  were  increased  to  seventeen,  and  Johnson  with 
Alexander,  Pulaski,  Massac,  Pope,  Union,  Jackson,  William- 
son and  Saline,  constitute  the  first  district.  The  salary  of 
a  circuit  judge  is  $6,500  per  annum  (1924).  Heretofore 
it  had  been  $3,500.  Johnson  County  has  had  the  honor  of 
two  representatives  on  the  circuit  bench,  Judges  0.  A. 
Harker  and  A.  K.  Vickers,  the  latter  was  also  elected  to  the 
Supreme  Court  and  served  as  Chief  Justice  of  the  state. 

First  page  of  the  court,  called  court  of  Common  Pleas, 
"Illinois  Territory,  Johnson  County,  S.  S.  pleas  before  the 
Honorable  Hamlet  Furguson  and  Jesse  Griggs,  Judges  of 
the  court  of  Common  Pleas  to-wit :  Henry  Hatten  Plaintiff 
against  Henry  Skinner  def  endant-treaspass :  Be  it  remem- 
bered that  heretofore,  on  the  twenty-fourth  day  of  Febru- 
ary, one  thousand  eight  hundred  and  thirteen,  the  following 
Capias,  adrespodendum,  to-wit:  The  United  States  to  the 
sheriff  of  Johnson  County,  greeting,  you  are  hereby  com- 
manded to  take  Henry  Skinner,  late  of  this  county,  if  he 
be  fond  in  your  Baliwick  and  him  safely  keep,  so  that  you 
have  his  body  before  our  judges  at  our  court  of  Common 
Pleas  next  to  be  holden  for  the  county  of  Johnson  at  the 
House  of  John  Bradshaw,  on  the  second  Monday  of  March 
next,  to  answer  to  Henry  Hatton  of  a  plea  of  trespass,  on 
the  case  to  the  damage  of  the  said  Henry  Hatten,  One 
hundred  dollars,  as  it  is  said,  and  do  you  have  him,  then, 
there.  This  witness,  James  Finney,  clerk  of  said  court  for 
the  county  aforesaid,  given  under  my  hand  and  private  seab 
(there  being  no  county  seal)  this  twenty-fourth  day  of  Feb. 
one  thousand  eight  hundred  and  thirteen,  and  of  the  Inde- 
pendence of  the  United  States,  XXXVII,  J.  Finney."  "En- 
dorsed, which  said  writ  had  on  it  the  following  endorsement 
to-wit;  this  is  an  action  on  the  case,  no  bail  is  required  un- 
less ordered  by  the  judges,  J.  Finney  clerk."  Which  said 
writ  was  returned  to  our  said  court  at  the  March  term, 
1813,  with  the  following  return  on  it,  to-wit:  "Cepi  corpus. 
March  6,  1813,  John  Bradshaw,  Dept.  Sheriff,  twenty-five 
miles."  A  bond  for  securing  the  cost  was  filed  by  the  plain- 
tiff in  the  following  words  and  figures  to-wit:  "Henry 
Hatten  vs.  Henry  Skinner  in  the  Common  Pleas  of  John- 
son County,  March  term,  1813,  I  do  hereby  enter  myself 
security  in  the  cost  of  the  above  case,  agreeably  to  the  law 
of  the  territory.  Signed  and  sealed  Amos  B.  Barker."  A 
second  case  was  Henry  Hatten  plaintiff,  Samuel  Penrod, 
defendant.     The  case  was  called  covenant  broken  and  re- 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY  259 


quired  bail  J.  B.  Bailey  was  the  bail  given,  and  Thomas  C. 
Patterson  was  the  sheriff  and  signed  twelve  miles.  The 
covenant  broken  was  an  agreement  between  these  two  men 
who  had  bought  six  saltpeter  caves,  each  to  pay  equal  parts, 
and  each  to  have  equal  parts,  the  caves  lying  on  Big  Muddy 
and  Cedar  Creeks,  Randolph  (later  Johnson)  County.  They 
were  to  work  them  in  partnership,  finding  and  working 
equal  parts,  each  to  have  equal  parts  and  to  make  the 
powder  in  the  same  manner,  neither  to  quit  nor  sell  his 
part.  If  he  does,  he  loses  his  part.  This  is  signed  by 
Samuel  Penrod  and  Henry  Hatten.  The  agreement  was 
dated  June  15,  1811.  Joseph  Conway  was  the  attorney  for 
the  defendant.  There  was  some  flaw  in  the  plaintiff's  suit. 
The  bill  of  costs  was  clerk  fees,  $4.89,  sheriff  fees,  $1.96, 
attorney's  fee  $2.50,  total  cost  $9.35.  Test.  J.  Finney 
clerk,  execution  issued  December  24,  1814." 

A  third  case  was  John  B.  Bailey  against  Frederick 
Talbot  and  John  Harris.  Fourth  case:  Hoseah  Borin 
against  W.  M.  Cryder,  B.  M.  Piatt,  J.  B.  Murry.  The  total 
costs  werein  one  case,  $8.37 ;  and  in  an  other  $6.72.  There 
is  a  record  of  an  attachment  against  David  McElmunny  in 
favor  of  John  Greething.  Other  men  connected  with  this 
case  were  Joseph  Thompson  and  Levi  Hughes.  Greething 
rendered  an  account  against  McElmunny  as  follows :  100 
bushels  of  corn  $50.00,  to  flat  on  ferry  boat,  $10.00,  by 
articles,  $10.00,  424  cwt.  of  pork  $12.00,  to  one  steer  lent, 
$8.00,  to  rent  $25.00.  Jeptha  Hardin  was  the  attorney,  cost 
of  suit,  $5.59.  Moses  Rhodes  sued  I.  D.  Wilcox  for  a  debt 
in  the  July  court,  Rhodes  paid  the  cost  which  amounted  to 
$12.12.  The  next  case  H.  W.  Robins  and  John  Prichard 
against  I.  D.  Wilcox ;  the  plaintiff  again  had  to  pay  the  cost 
through  mistake.  John  Phelps  vs.  Stephen  Kuykendall  in 
the  March  term  1813,  for  debt,  Bail  was  required  for  Kuy- 
kendall's  appearance  in  court  and  Walker  Daniels  was  the 
bail.  April  term,  1813,  is  a  case  of  Elisha  Hicks  vs.  William 
Simpson,  in  which  the  following  note  is  exhibited,  "For 
value  received  I  promise  to  pay  Elisha  Hicks  or  order,  two 
likely  three  year  old  steers,  to  be  delivered  in  a  yoke,  on  or 
before  the  first  day  of  October,  as  witness  my  hand  and 
seal,  this  the  30th  day  of  May,  1808— William  Simpson." 
William  Simpson,  Jr.,  was  the  bail  for  William  Simpson, 
Sr. 

A  transcript  from  the  records  of  a  Kentucky  court  was 


260  A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


Hied  and  read  as  follows:  "State  of  Kentucky,  Livingston 
County,  ss.  Pleas,  before  the  Hon.  Wm.  Wallace,  Judge  of 
the  Livingston  Court,  David  Caldwell  and  Joshua  Saxson, 
assistant  judges,  to-wit:  Jackob  Hardin,  asignee  of  Arthur 
Morgan,  who  was  assignee  of  Edward  Talbot,  plaintiff, 
against  Stephen  Kuykendall  and  John  Phelps,  defendants, 
in  debt."  The  record  further  shows  that  a  writ  was  issued 
against  these  two  men  on  the  8th  day  of  March,  1806,  in 
said  county  and  state.  Enoch  Prince,  clerk  of  the  court, 
and  the  writ  had  the  following ;  Peter  Laren,  bail ;  Thomas 
Cist,  sheriff.  At  a  later  court  with  Ninnan  Edwards,  after- 
ward Governor  of  Ilinois,  presiding  Judge,  1806;  Jacob 
Hardin  sued  John  Phelphs,  Mujah  Phelps  went  on  the  bond 
of  John  and  in  this  case,  Rezin  Davage  was  the  attorney. 
The  cause  for  the  case  was  a  note  to-wit:  "Twelve  months 
after  date  we  or  either  of  us,  do  promise  to  pay  to  Edward 
Talbot  or  his  assignee  the  sum  of  thirty  dollars  and 
twenty-two  and  one  half  cents,  ($30.22V2)  for  value  re- 
ceived from  him,  October  15,  1803. "  November  term,  1813 
term  opens  with  a  case  of  trespass,  with  Henry  Noble 
Plaintiff,  and  Samuel  Simpson,  defendant;  H.  Day  as  J.  P. 
ordered  a  bond  for  Simpson's  appearance  in  the  sum  of 
ninety-nine  dollars,  but  his  opponent,  exonerated  him  from 
giving  a  bond,  William  Russell  was  the  attorney  for  Noble. 
John  Borin  of  Center  Township  was  called  by  the  court  to 
answer  for  assault  and  batery  against  Stephen  Kuyken- 
dall. J.  Weaver  was  the  foreman  of  the  grand  jury  that 
brought  the  indictment.  N.  Huckison  was  the  witness  and 
William  Mears  was  the  Attorney  General.  The  jury  called 
in  this  case  was  composed  of  Jacob  Craft,  Lion  Claxton, 
Andrew  Clapp,  Obadiah  and  Henry  Russell,  Robert  Reed, 
Richard  Davis,  and  Abraham  McCowan,  with  other  fam- 
iliar names. 

At  this  court,  John  Earthman  was  indicted  for  assault 
and  battery  on  John  W.  Calvert,  the  same,  no  doubt,  that 
married  William  Simpson  Sr's.  daughter.  He  was  acquited. 
Next  we  have  John  Harris,  who  resided  in  Clear  Creek 
Township,  sueing  John  Barnhart  for  treaspass.  This  case 
seems  to  have  run  into  a  kind  of  attachment  suit,  Harris 
against  J.  Barnhart  and  J.  B.  Bailey,  about  a  note  that  had 
been  lost  and  found,  and  which  read  as  follows,  "November 
26,  1813,  Frederick  Talbot  and  John  Barnhart  agreed  to 
run  the  Darling  filly,  a  dark  chestnut  sorrel,  against  a 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY  261 


bright  bay  horse,  1-year  old  past,  for  $120.00  in  good  horse 
flesh,  if  not  the  forfeit  is  $30.00.  A  catch  to  be  run  on  the 
9th  day  of  December,  in  Barnhart's  paths. — John  Barnhart 
Federick  Talbot."  The  jury,  was  David  D.  Holder,  Willis 
Standard,  William  Tripp,  Charles  Perrin,  Joseph  Smalley, 
beside  others  named  before.  The  jury  found  for  the  de- 
fendants. The  Weaver  vs.  W7ilcox  case  grew  out  of  one  of 
them  saying,  that  the  other  had  run  off  his  negro  girl. 
This  was  frequently  done  by  dishonest  parties  in  the  days 
of  slavery.  They  would  take  negroes  belonging  to  someone 
else,  take  them  south  and  sell  them.  The  following  are 
from  the  March  term  of  1814.  The  first  is  a  case  of  the 
United  States  against  Isaac  Jerett,  on  complaint  of  Susan 
Sampson  about  a  club  ax.  This  was  orginally  tried  before 
Hezekiah  West,  J.  P.  George  Butler  was  Jerett's  bail. 
Richard  Stiles  and  John  Mackej^  were  witnesses.  Jerette 
lived  in  Center  Township.  This  is  about  all  that  would  be 
interesting  to  any  reader  at  the  present  time.  The  next  is 
a  suit  of  Hugh  Logan  against  William  Robinson,  which  is 
another  long  drawn  out  case.  Hugh  Logan  it  appears  was 
versed  in  the  art  of  making  powder  and  entered  into  an 
agreement  with  William  Robinson,  to  build  a  powder  mill 
on  the  west  branch  of  Clear  Creek.  Logan  was  to  teach 
Robinson  to  make  powder  and  they  were  to  work  together. 
Logan  was  to  have  five  pounds  of  every  six  of  powder  that 
was  made,  and  Robinson  was  to  have  one  of  every  six. 
Logan  brought  suit  against  Robinson  in  the  sum  of  $1,000, 
saying  that  Robinson  did  not  work  or  furnish  any  material 
but  took  forcibly  all  the  powder.  Logan  was  given  $25.00 
damages.  The  cost  in  this  .case  was  unusually  large  for 
that  time,  clerk  fees,  $42.70 !/>,  for  witness  attendance, 
$8.22,  attorneys  fee,  $2.50,  sheriff's  fee  $40,321/,,  jury  fee 
$3.00. 

Another  suit  at  this  court  was  that  of  William  Hamil- 
ton who  brought  suit  agaist  John  Barnhart  of  Cache  town- 
ship.  Joseph  Lawrence  of  the  same  township  and  Moses 
Travern  for  assualt  and  battery.  Abraham  Smally  was 
appearance  bail  for  John  Barnhart  and  Henry  Giles  for 
Moses  Travern.  Thomas  Giles  acting  as  deputy  sheriff,  G. 
W.  Moore  was  the  principal  witness.  The  trial  discription 
of  this  case  is  a  little  amusing  and  one  gathers  from  the 
evidence  that  Hamilton  was  drunk.  They  first  attacked 
him.    The  witness  says  that  Hamilton  "whooraid"  for  Gen- 


262  A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


eral  Washington,  then  Barnhart  placed  him  in  a  chair,  so 
that  he  fell  out,  then  Barnhart  wanted  him  to  drink  friends, 
which  Hamilton  refused  to  do,  but  drank  more  and  hur- 
rahed some  more,  till  William  Lawrence  came  in,  and  said 
it  was  a  shame,  and  that  he  would  not  have  such  doings  on 
the  Sabbath  day.  Hamilton,  from  the  testimony,  decided 
he  would  go  to  bed.  Moore  took  him  to  a  house  and  ser 
him  by  the  fire  and  went  to  bed.  When  Moore  awoke,  he 
heard  Travern  say,  "For  God  sake,  don't  let  him  burn  up," 
and  pulled  him  out  of  the  fire.  Barnhart  held  a  tallow 
candle  to  the  fire  and  rubbed  it  on  the  said  Hamilton,  who 
was  naked.  The  next  morning  I  saw  Joseph  Lawrence 
tearing  off  Hamilton's  overalls,  about  the  seat.  This  is  only 
part  of  Moore's  testimony  and  is  used  to  demonstrate  the 
character  of  some  of  our  early  settlers  and  the  part  that 
the  manufacture  and  sale  of  whiskey  played  in  our  early 
civilization. 

Weir  and  Craig,  as  merchants,  brought  suit  in  this 
county  against  Samuel  Simpson,  1813. 

Very  few  women  had  lawsuits  in  those  days,  but  Betsy 
(alias)  Elizabeth,  Keith  sued  Richard  McBride,  Thomas 
Green  and  John  Tweedy,  on  •  a  writ  of  replevin,  for  one 
sorrel  mare,  one  woman's  saddle,  one  bed,  one  blanket,  six 
blue  edge  plates,  six  knives  and  forks,  one  coffee  pot  and 
Delph  dish,  valued  at  a  $130.00.  She  obtained  a  judgment 
of  $200.00  then  William  Miller  appeared  as  an  attorney  in 
the  case  and  had  the  judgment  set  aside,  because  fifteen 
days  had  not  elapsed  between  the  time  of  serving  the  writ 
and  the  convening  of  the  court.  Peter  Stalcup  complains 
of  Henry  and  John  Earthman  in  a  plea  of  covenant  broken. 
Absalom  Stalcup  is  defendant  in  a  case  of  trespass.  A 
case  of  selling  whiskey  without  license,  in  less  quantities 
that  a  quart,  was  brought  by  the  people  against  Sarah 
Bunts,  probably  the  first  case  of  this  kind  in  the  county 
against  a  woman.  James  Markham  was  indicted  for  as- 
sault and  batteiy  on  the  complaint  of  Jesse  Terry,  Sr.  The 
jurymen  in  this  case  not  mentioned  before  were  Joseph 
Fisher,  Gilbert  Noble,  Joab  Ratcliff,  and  Robert  Miller. 
"Sarah  Medlock  vs.  John  Mackey,  tresspass."  In  a  case 
of  a  note  given  by  Isaac  D.  Wilcox  to  Moses  Rhodes,  1811 
and  attested  by  Jesse  Beak.  Some  of  the  juriors  were 
Amos  Howard,  Samuel  Wooday,  George  Matheny  and  R. 
H.  Loyd.     The  next  suit  was  about  an  order  which  read 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY  263 


as  follows:  "Sir:  Please  pay  to  the  bearer,  Hugh  Logan 
430  pounds  of  saltpeter,  and  oblige  and  soforth — Joseph 
French  to  Henry  Skinner.  Test.  T.  F.  Clark."  The  follow- 
ing has  been  referred  to  in  the  county  court  records,  Hoseah 
Borin  sued  John  Bradshaw  to  recover  one  negro  woman,  a 
slave,  and  one  negro  man  and  child,  and  a  slave,  Abram  of 
the  price  and  value  of  $600.00.  It  appears  from  the  records 
these  slaves  had  belonged  to  Basil  Borin  who  died  in  1812, 
and  Hoesah  Borin,  the  administrator  claimed  that  Brad- 
shaw, was  detaining  them  fraudulently.  William  McDaniel, 
David  Cotner,  George  James  and  John  Carter  are  new 
names  on  the  jury  in  this  case,  and  Bradshaw  was  exoner- 
ated. '  Susannah  Borin  brings  suit  against  Issac  D.  Wilcox, 
covenant  broken.  On  examination  Wilcox  admits  he  re- 
ceived three  negroes  for  which  he  was  to  pay  $300.00.  The 
new  names  on  this  jury  were  Richard  Messer,  and  Ebenzer 
Killough.  Through  some  turn  by  the  attorney,  Susannah 
lost  the  case  and  had  to  pay  the  cost.  The  Borins  were 
rather  unfortunate  with  their  slaves. 

Another  case  was  Elisha  Spivy  and  Elizabeth  Elkins 
vs.  John  Elkins.  This  was  copied  from  book  No.  1  of  the  cir- 
cuit court  records  for  the  years  1813-14.  J.  Finney  was 
the  clerk  and  the  writing  is  very  legible,  although  written 
one  hundred  and  ten  years  ago.  The  following  is  copied 
from  record  No.  3,  and  begins  with  the  May  court,  1818. 
The  names  of  the  grand  jurors  are  given  first,  James  Bain, 
foreman,  John  Copeland,  David  Shearer,  Joel  Johnson,  Ben- 
nett Hancock,  Millington  Smith,  D.  Simpson,  Squire  Choate, 
Davids  Elms,  Hardy  Johnson,  John  W.  Gore,  John  Bridges, 
James  Sutten,  Richard  McGinnis,  William  McNorton, 
Wm.  McFatridge,  J.  S.  Graves,  John  Peterson,  Adam  Har- 
vick,  William  Gothard,  and  Alexander  McGoawn.  The  fol- 
lowing are  some  of  the  cases,  and  jurors,  but  only  those 
that  have  new  names  connected  with  them  are  used. 
Ezekiel  Able  vs.  William  Boner,  on  the  jury  were  William 
Porter,  John  Jennett,  Jesse  Echols.  Contestants,  King 
Hazel  vs.  Luke  Williams;  Joshua  Whittington  vs.  Andrew 
Kidd ;  Mathew  Peck  vs.  Thomas  Furguson ;  James  B.  Mc- 
Call  vs.  Furguson;  Nathaniel  Pope  vs.  J.  A.  Whiteside; 
John  Parmer  vs.  Linkhorn  Harper ;  James  Letcher  vs.  Hugh 
Craig;  Susannah  Price  and  Joseph  Palmer  vs.  James 
Worth ington  and  Levi  Hughes,  T.  S.  Slaughter  vs.  Elija 
Bryant;  Wm.  Morrison  vs.  W.  Hukam,  Joseph  Taylor  vs. 


264  A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 

Daniel  Ritter.  Some  new  names  on  the  petit  jury  were 
Jeremiah  Lysemby,  Benjamin  Curley.  Patsy  Fisher  and 
Owen  Evans  vs.  R.  Heacock;  Mary  Weaver,  John  Thornton 
and  Hezekiah  West  vs.  I.  D.  Wilcox.  On  the  grandjury  of 
October,  1819,  the  name  of  Rix  Carter,  John  Grissum, 
Thomas  Doyle,  James  Jones  and  Aaron  B.  Brown.  The  Hon. 
William  Wilson  held  the  November  term  in  1819.  Some 
new  jury  names  were  Milton  Ladd,  John  Grisham,  John 
Oliver,  and  Henry  Mangum.  The  first  courts  for  1820, 
there  are  few  changes  in  the  names  of  jurors  and  some  of 
the  parties  bringing  suit  were  Francis  Geehan,  William 
Hendry,  Thomas  Dial,  Henry  Osborn,  Joseph  McCorcle  and 
Robert  Little.  Wilson,  Marshall  &  Co.,  John  P.  Hogan  and 
W.  H.  Ashley  all  had  suits  against  I.  D.  Wilcox  in  this 
court,  also  Thomas  Sloo,  Jr.  Wilcox  had  more  lawsuits 
than  any  other  one  person  in  these  courts,  and  S.  J.  Chap- 
man, Sr.  is  possibly  second.  The  court  of  1822  shows  T. 
C.  Brown  as  judge.  Two  new  names  as  grand  jurors, 
Thomas  Duns  worth,  and  James  Sitter.  (At  close  of  this 
court,  John  Oliver  is  allowed  four  dollars  for  four  days 
attendance  at  the  last  court  as  sheriff,  and  James  Finney  is 
allowed  $30.00,  his  annual  salary  as  clerk  of  this  court,  and 
$12.00  extra  expenses.)  The  only  new  names  as  jurors  at 
the  April  term  for  1823,  were  Levi  Casey  and  Reuben 
Wright.  Some  of  those  having  cases  were  Daniel  Field, 
Spencer  Grogan,  Lewis  Vemont,  John  Elkins,  Pennington 
Moss,  Isaac  Ralston,  and  Polly  Sutten.  September  court, 
jurors  not  named  before  A  Rice  and  Elias  Harrell.  Robert 
Lott,  J.  E.  Willis,  James  White,  James  Brown,  Richard  Cox, 
Wheeler  Bevins,  Joshua  Elkins  and  Sally  Cooper  were  de- 
fendants. Irvin  Morris  and  Lucius  F.  Gibbs  were  new 
plaintiffs.  At  the  May  term  1822,  the  Hon.  Samuel  Mc- 
Roberts  was  the  judge.  New  names  as  jurors  were  John 
Henderson,  W.  B.  Smith,  Ira  Hitchcock,  and  Mark  Rentfro. 
The  only  new  names  appearing  in  cases  were  Samuel  Vol- 
ner,  Able  Larrison  and  the  officers  of  the  State  Bank  of 
Illinois.  The  Hon.  Richard  M.  Young,  was  presiding  judge 
at  the  October  term,  1825.  One  new  name  as  juror  Abra- 
ham Jobe.  The  names  of  William  Slack,  Robert  Axley  and 
Henry  W.  Mound  appear  as  petit  jurors.  D.  J.  Baker  was 
the  circuit  attorney.  James  Brown,  James  Westbrooks, 
Joseph  Huddlestone,  Abraham  Baker  are  the  only  new 
parties  in  law  suits.  The  same  officers  have  charge  of  May 
term  for  1826.     No  new  names  as  jurors.     "On  the  27th 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY  265 


clay  of  May,  1826  personally  appeared  before  me  David 
McNeely,  a  resident  of  Johnson  County,  aged  about  72  years 
saying  he  enlisted  for  the  term  of  three  years  on  the  12th 
day  of  April,  1777,  in  the  state  of  Virginia,  in  the  company 
commanded  by  Capt.  Adam  Wallace,  in  the  7th  regiment, 
commanded  by  Col.  Heath,  in  the  line  of  the  state  of  Vir- 
ginia, that  he  continued  in  said  corps  till  some  time  in  1779, 
when  he  was  discharged  from  service  in  the  state  of  North 
Carolina.  He  stated  that  his  name  was  not  on  any  state 
roll,  that  he  had  not  applied  for  a  pension  before  because 
his  circumstances,  although  not  affluent,  had  been  easy,  but 
by  misfortune  and  sickness,  he  had  been  reduced  to  the 
necessity  of  asking  a  support  from  his  country.  He  swore 
he  was  a  resident  of  the  United  States  on  the  18th  day  of 
March,  1818.  He  stated-  he  had  not  given  away  his  property 
in  order  that  he  may  get  a  pension.  His  property  con- 
sisted of  one  suit  of  wearing  apparel,  valued  at  $3.87 Yi 
Richard  M.  Young  ordered  the  clerk  that  it  be  certified 
that  it  appeared  to  the  satisfaction  of  the  court  that  the 
said  David  McNeeley  did  serve  in  the  Revolutionary  War." 
This  is  not  the  full  text  but  the  main  points  in  it.  There 
seems  to  be  quite  a  contrast  in  the  way  men  look  upon 
taking  money  from  the  government  now  and  one  hundred 
years  ago.  On  the  same  day  J.  D.  Simpkins,  a  resident  of 
Johnson  County  appeared  before  the  court  saying  he  had 
enlisted  for  the  term  of  three  years  on  the  13th  day  of 
October,  1777,  in  the  state  of  New  York,  in  the  company 
commanded  by  Captain  John  Randolph,  of  Col.  Henry  Lee's 
Light  Horse,  commonly  called  the  Legion,  in  the  line  of  the 
state  of  Virginia,  in  the  Continental  Establishment,  that  he 
continued  to  serve  in  said  troop  until  the  14th  day  of  1781, 
when  he  was  discharged  from  service.  He  gives  his  rea- 
sons for  applying  for  a  pension  and  subscribes  to  some 
other  forms  required.  Then  follows  a  schedule  of  his  pos- 
sessions :  four  cows  and  calves,  valued  at  $20.00 ;  two  steers, 
valued  at  $16.00;  one  lot  of  hogs,  valued  at  $20.00;  house 
hold  furniture  at  the  value  of  $30.00 ;  crop  of  corn  and 
provision  on  hand,  $30.00.  This  is  also  sworn  to  before 
Richard  M.  Young,  Judge,  and  the  court  certifies  that  he  is 
satisfied  that  John  G.  Simpkins,  did  serve  in  the  Revolution- 
ary War,  and  ordered  that  the  clerk  so  certify.  On  May 
27,  1826,  Samuel  Gardner,  a  resident  of  Johnson  County, 
applied  for  a  certificate  for  a  pension  from  the  court.  He 
also  enlisted  in  New  York  in  1777,  in  the  company  com- 


266  A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


manded  by  Marisus  (if  deciphered  correct)  Willis,  Lieut. 
Col.  of  the  regiment  commanded  by  Col.  Gansofort  in  the 
line  of  the  state  of  New  York,  and  was  discharged  the  4th 
day  of  June,  1784,  in  the  state  of  New  York.  He  has  not 
applied  heretofore  because  he  was  able  to  support  himself 
by  his  labors.  Old  age  and  sickness  reduced  him  to  the 
necessity  of  asking  his  country's  aid.  Then  follows  the 
usual  form  and  schedule  of  his  property,  one  rifle  gun, 
valued  at  $10.00;  one  hoe  valued  at  50c,  one  ax  valued  at 
75c.  The  judge  ordered  the  clerk  to  certify  that  he  was 
satisfied  that  Samuel  Gardner  did  serve  in  the  Revolution- 
ary War.  From  these  records  it  appears  that  we  had  other 
Revolutionary  soldiers  than  those  whose  graves  have  been 
marked  by  the  D  A.  R.  At  the  October  term,  1826,  there 
are  two  names  on  the  jury  list  we  have  not  had  before. 
Martin  Howell,  and  James  McKee.  Sidney  Breese  was  the 
circuit  attorney,  having  failed  to  attend  D.  J.  Baker  was 
appointed  in  his  stead.  John  Shearer  was  constable.  Jesse 
Fain  was  excused  from  jury  duty.  James  and  Polly  Sittow 
were  divorced  at  this  court  by  a  jury,  and  Polly  was  pro- 
hibited from  marrying  again  for  two  years.  Athony  Ensor 
was  a  defendant  in  this  court. 

At  the  April  term,  1828,  William  J.  Gatewood  was 
District  Attorney.  The  new  jury  names  were  William 
Parker  and  Solomon  Stephens.  The  new  parties  to  law- 
suits were  William  Allard  and  J.  C  Willard.  At  the  Octo- 
ber term  of  this  court  one  new  name  as  juror,  John  Sims. 
The  name  of  Amos  Lacey  appears  connected  with  a  lawsuit. 
At  the  May  court,  1828,  Jacob  Keisler  and  Robert  Kerley 
are  new  names  as  jurors.  Pleasant  L.  Ward,  Phillip  Cor- 
bitt  and  Elias  K.  Cotton  are  the  new  contestants  in  law- 
suits. At  the  April  term,  1836  the  name  of  William  Mount 
appears  for  the  first  time  as  a  juror.  Richard  Elkins  and 
Francis  Kincannon  were  excused  from  duty.  In  this  court 
there  appears  a  record  as  follows.  "This  day  appeared  in 
open  court,  Washington  Thompson,  a  man  of  color,  and 
presented  a  certificate  of  Bennett  Jones,  Sheriff,  of  John- 
ston County,  certifying  that  he,  the  said  Washington,  had 
been  aprehended  as  a  runaway  slave  or  servant  and  com- 
mitted to  the  jail  of  said  county  by  Ivy  Reynolds  an  acting 
justice  of  the  peace,  in  and  for  said  county  and  that  he  had 
been  dealt  with  according  to  law,  and  hired  out  from 
month  to  month  for  the  space  of  twelve  months,  ending  the 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY  267 


26th  day  of  December  last,  1835,  and  that  no  owner  had 
appeared  in  the  said  time,  to  claim  the  said  Washington 
Thompson.  It  was  ordered  that  the  facts  be  and  are  here- 
by certified  and  made  public,  and  it  is  hereby  ordered  that 
said  Washington  Thompson  shall  be  deemed  a  free  person 
unless  he  shall  be,  lawfully  claimed  by  his  proper  owner  or 
owners/'  Elias  Holmes,  W.  C.  White,  J.  N  Modglin,  and 
David  Harper  were  new  jurors.  William  McGee  was  a 
defendant  in  a  suit  brought  from  Pope  County.  Some 
other  names  connected  with  this  court  were  Allen  Pruett, 
John  Jackson.  Record  1,  page  30,  December  1,  1811,  David 
MacElmunny,  debtor  to  John  Greething.  April  term,  1813. 
Joseph  Conway,  Dept.  Atty.  General,  a  suit  was  brought 
by  John  Prichard,  assignee  of  Hugh  Logan  vs.  Henry  Skin- 
ner, Isaac  D.  Wilcox  was  security  for  the  cost.  Accom- 
paning  the  declaration  was  an  order  to-wit.  "Sir  please 
pay  the  bearer  Hugh  Logan,  four  hundred  and  thirty-two 
pounds  of  saltpeter,  and  oblige  and  soforth,  Joseph  French 
to  Henry  Skinner,  Test.  Thomas  F.  Clark,  July  12,  1811." 
On  the  back  of  this  order  was  the  following  to-wit.  "I 
do  assign  over  the  within  order  to  John  Prichard  in  secur- 
ity of  thirty  dollars  to  be  paid  on  or  before  the  first  day  of 
June  next,  April  14,  1812,  Hugh  Logan.  The  within  order 
is  accepted  by  me,  Henry  Skinner,  July  12,  1812,  Test. 
Joseph  Shaw.  This  note  shows  another  legal  tender  to  be 
saltpeter. 

November  term,  1814,  William  Daniel  vs.  Daniel  Vin- 
cent, trespass,  John  Spann  and  Charles  Murphy  were  secur- 
ity for  the  cost.  July  term,  of  court  1814,  held  at  the 
house  of  John  Bradshaw  in  the  town  of  Elvira,  Johnson 
County,  Illinois.  One  case  was  Henry  Buckentaff  vs. 
William  Simpson  growing  out  of  the  following,  to-wit :  "On 
or  before  the  first  day  of  August  next  I  promise  to  pay 
Henry  Buckentaff  two  hundred  and  thirteen  and  a  half 
bushels  of  good  dry  salt,  delivered  in  good  barrels  at 
Shawneetown,  it  being  for  value  received.  As  witness  my 
hand  this  6th  day  of  February,  1811,  William  Simpson, 
Test.  Daniel  Head."  Then  follows  the  indorsements  "I 
assign  the  within  note  to  Nathan  Hern,  without  recourse, 
July  12,  1813,  Henry  Buckentaff,  Test.  William  Daniels." 
Asignment  two  "I  assign  my  right  of  the  within  note  to 
John  Venton  without  recourse,  July  12,  1813,  Nathan  Hearn 
Test  William  Daniels."  Third  assignment,  "I  assign  my 
right  of  the  within  note  to  John  Stilty  without  recourse, 


268  A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


September  21,  1813,  John  S.  Venton."  Since  this  note  had 
done  duty  in  so  many  hands  perhaps  it  would  be  of  interest 
to  know  that  Simpson  paid  Buckentaff  $174.00  and  the  cost 
of  the  suit,  apparently  salt  was  also  legal  tender. 

At  the  November  term,  1814,  John  King  and  Williams 
Styles  are  required  to  answer  to  a  charge  ^  of  treaspass  at 
the  complaint  of  Elisha  Spivy  who  lost  his  horses  and  these 
men  found  them.  He  accuses  them  of  selling  his  horses 
and  knowing  they  were  his.  The  jury  that  was  called  had 
John  Teddford,  S.  Snyder,  Jacob  Hunsaker  and  John  Wood- 
land, whose  names  have  not  been  copied  on  jury  service  be- 
fore. The  jury  allowed  Spivy  $50.00  damages  when  he  had 
sued  for  $1,000.  The  next  is  the  cape  of  John  Sharp  and 
Joshua  Talbot,  administrators  of  Frederit  k  Crice.  They 
brought  suit  against  Catherin  Crice.  It  wr>s  a  plea  of  debt 
for  $370,961/2  and  damages  $150.00.  Samuel  Penroa  was 
her  bondsman,  Russell  E.  Heacock,  attorney  for  Sharp  and 
Talbot  entered  a  complaint  stating  that  the  said  plaintiffs 
had  obtained  a  judgment  against  the  said  Catherine  Crice 
in  Butler  County  Court,  Kentucky  for  the  sum  of  $360  at 
a  court  held  before  the  judge  of  said  county,  August,  1813, 
by  their  Atty.  John  Brethell,  which  had  never  been  satis- 
fied. The  debt  was  originally  $700.  She  had  promised 
frequently  to  pay  Frederick  Crice  which  she  failed  to  do. 
After  his  death  she  still  promised  to  pay  his  administrators, 
but  failing  they  brought  suit  for  $700.  In  the  November 
term,  1814,  Catherine  Crice  appeared  at  Morgantown,  But- 
ler County,  and  says  "the  action  ought  not  to  be  as  the 
estate  owes  her  $400  for  clothing,  washing  and  lodging  the 
infant  children  of  the  deceased."  At  a  later  court  held  in 
June.  1815  her  attorney,  Delaney,  filed  a  claim  as  having 
paid  the  debt.  This  case  was  brought  before  a  jury  in 
Johnson  County,  Illinois,  October,  1815.  The  debt  was 
allowed  and  damages  was  $45.00.  A  writ  was  issued 
against  Catherine  Crice's  property.  The  writ  was  returned, 
no  property  found,  'I.  Morris,  Dept  for  T.  Furguson.'  Cath- 
erine Crice  was  ordered  put  in  jail  September  15,  at  the 
instance  of  John  Sharp  and  Frederick  Talbot  as  adminis- 
trators of  the  estate  of  Frederice  Crice. 

The  following  year  Catherine  Crice  took  advantage  of 
the  law  of  this  state  for  debtors  as  referred  to  in  "Customs" 
Daniel  Groves,  at  this  court  brought  suit  against  John 
Borin,  and  Thomas  Littlepage  for  a  judgment  he  had  ob- 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY  269 


tained  in  the  Livingston  County  Court,  Kentucky.  Christ- 
phor  Thompkins  was  his  attorney.  In  1807  a  writ  is  issued 
against  Thomas  and  Benjamin  Littlepage  in  Livingston 
County  Court,  held  at  Russelville,  Kentucky.  Armstead 
Morehead,  clerk,  Wiley  J.  Earner,  Sheriff,  1808. 

These  cases  came  to  our  court  for  the  reason  that  many 
of  our  settlers  came  from  that  state.  William  Eastin  and 
Johnathan  Magnus  appear  as  contestants  in  the  next  case. 
A  writ  issued  against  Eastin  from  the  state  of  Tennessee, 
requiring  him  to  appear  at  a  court  held  in  Nashville,  1812. 
The  administrators  of  Joseph  Eubank's  estate  sued  James 
Tolly  and  Charles  Perry  for  debt.  At  a  court  in  1815  we 
first  have  the  names  of  John  Damron,  John  Witt  is  the  com- 
plainant in  this  case,  which  is  called  "oraton."  It  appears 
the  suit  originated  through  a  bill  of  sale  of  property  that 
John  Witt  had  made  over  to  Nellie  Witt,  his  wife,  and  six 
infant  children.  The  case  was  continued  at  the  October 
term,  but  the  odd  feature  about  it  is,  the  number  of  the 
Perry  family  that  are  summoned  to  court.  Wm.  Perry,  Sr., 
and  Jr.,  John,  Enoch,  Hiram  and  Solomon  Perry  with  John 
and  George  Damron.  There  is  a  case  in  the  June  term, 
1816,  over  a  note  given  by  Isaac  Wilcox  in  1810  to  John 
Stead.  James  D.  Johnson  bought  the  note,  then  Russel  E. 
Heacock  bought  it,  and  William  Osborn  was  security  for 
the  cost,  James  S.  Dorris  signed  the  writ  as  sheriff  of  John- 
son County.  James  Malcom  brought  a  suit  in  the  Novem- 
ber term,  1816,  trespass  against  Jesse  Terry.  The  Jury 
was  D.  T.  Coleman,  Foreman,  John  Elkins,  John  Spann, 
John  Tedforcl,  Solomon  Snyder,  James  Abernathy,  John 
Wood,  Jeremiah  Murry,  Thomas  Prichard,  Jacob  Hunsaker 
and  William  Penny.  In  October,  1817  Squire  Allen  sued 
Jesse  Parker  for  debt.  At  the  May  term  of  court,  1818, 
David  Usher  brought  suit  against  several  men  whose  names 
have  already  been  mentioned  for  assault  and  battery. 
Thomas  C.  Brown  held  the  November  court,  1819,  Samuel 
Langdon,  assignee  of  James  Frazer,  suit  vs.  Wilcox.  This 
record  extends  from  October,  1814,  to  May,  1818,  but  the 
names  occuring  in  the  different  cases  are  all  familiar. 

There  is  and  old  execution  docket  in  the  circuit  clerks 
office  giving  all  the  cases  from  January  1,  1818-28.  On  the 
inside  cover  of  one  of  these  old  records  is  a  note  perhaps  a 
joke,  as  there  was  no  date,  "On  demand  I  promise  to  John 
Mclntyre,  five  good  negro  boys  and  farm  S.  C."     Another 


270  A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


entry  that  seems  to  have  no  connection  with  this  county 
is,  Augustine  G.  S.  Wright,  sub-agent  lor  the  Fever  River 
Lead  Mines,  Dodgeville,  Joe  Davis  County,  Illinois.  Then 
follows  the  names,  Gen.  H.  Dodge,  and  Col  A.  G.  S. 
Wright.  On  this  docket,  November  term  1820,  it  is  re- 
corded that  James  Finney  had  been  indicted  for  A.  S.  B. 
not  being  familiar  with  legal  abreviations,  on  investigation, 
it  was  found  to  mean,  assault  and  battery.  Finney  being 
an  officer  of  the  court,  this  was  quite  unexpected.  He 
plead  guilty  and  was  fined  twelve  and  one  half  cents. 

The  grand  jurymen  for  the  October  court,  1829,  were 
Joseph  Kuykendall,  Foreman,  John  Bain,  E.  W.  Campbell, 
Alvin  Cross,  Allen  Choate,  Isham  DePoister,  William  Elkins 
Frederick  Graves,  Abraham  McGowan,  James  Miles,  George 
Lile,  John  Standard,  William  Taylor,  Thomas  Gore,  Mar- 
shall Hale,  and  Josiah  Raign.  The  first  case  is  against 
Daniel  Chapman,  the  next  Archibald  Goodman,  Elias  K. 
Cotton,  John  P.  Finney,  Jesse  Canady.    At  the  April  term, 

1830,  the  names  on  this  jury  not  mentioned  before  were 
John  Axley,  James  Boswell,  Hardy  Cooper,  Molton  Carter, 
Harris  Hart  and  John  Goddard,  T.  C.  Brown  was  the  Judge 
and  H.  J.  Eddy  the  attorney.  Jesse  Williams,  Samuel  Ox- 
ford, Jacob  Kiester,  and  Henry  McHenry  were  the  defen- 
dants in  this  court.  The.  grand  jury  returned  with  two  in- 
dictments. The  unfamiliar  names  at  the  October  term  of 
court,  1830  were,  jurymen  Abraham  Niel,  Louis  Pankey. 
Thomas  Moore,  Nathaniel  Buckmaster,  Rebeca  Caswe 
were  defendants  in  cases  of  this  court.    At  the  April  term, 

1831,  the  new  jurymen  were  James  Gershon,  B.  S.  Enloe, 
and  David  Harper.  Fannie  Holmes,  Lot  W.  Hancock  and 
William  Lewis  and  some  others  who  have  been  mentioned 
had  cases  in  this  court.  April  term,  1832,  William  Rich- 
ards, Moses  Shelby,  are  the  unfair  names  of  jurymen. 
Mathew  Blackwell,  Peter  May  and  Phillip  Hargrave  had 
cases  in  this  court.  At  the  April  term,  1833,  Stephen  and 
Mark  Rentfro,  James  Emerson,  and  Jeptha  Wise  are  un- 
familiar Jurymen.  John  DeWit,  Robert  Fortenberry, 
Henry  Tolson,  Robert  and  John  Diterline.  P.  W.  Harring- 
ton, William  Mathine,  Ward  and  Ensminger,  Jacob  Gram- 
mer,  Charlton  Fairless,  John  L.  Coper,  Timothy  Hayes. 
William  Peterson,  Warren  Grisham,  Solomon  Gibson,  John 
Betts,  Sally  Temple,  Nancy  Dyke,  Jacob  Sammon,  were 
either  plaintiffs  or  defendants  at  this  court.    Also  the  fol- 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY  271 


lowing  record:  'This  day  William  Wiggs,  a  soldier  of  the 
Revolution,  by  James  Evans,  his  attorney  came  into  court 
and  presented  his  declaration  and  affidavit  with  certificate 
and  affidavits  of  Hezekiah  West,  James  Jones,  Sr.,  Clergy- 
man, and  John  Sims,  certifying  of  their  knowledge  regard- 
ing his  service  and  veracity  and  truth  in  order  to  entiile 
him  to  the  benefit  of  the  act  of  Congress  of  June  7,  1832, 
which  is  ordered  to  be  certified,  with  county  seal  annexed." 
His  pension  was  allowed.  The  next  court  was  November, 
1833,  G.  W.  Youngblood  is  the  only  grand  juryman  not 
mentioned  before."  Harry,  a  colored  man,  this  day  came 
into  court.  The  said  Harry,  by  hi?  attorneys,  Dougherty 
and  Dunn,  and  moved  the  court  to  restrain  Owen  Evans, 
his  supposed  master,  from  removing  him  without  the  juris- 
diction of  the  court,  "which  motion  is  continued."  "This 
day  A.  P.  Field,  Esq.  came  into  court  and  moved  the  court 
for  a  rule  upon  the  sheriff  of  Johnson  County  to  show  cause 
why  he  does  not  return  to  Owen  Evans  the  property  at- 
tached (a  certain  negro  man)  which  had  been  attached  as 
the  property  of  the  said  Evans,  in  which  attachment  special 
bail  had  been  filled  which  motion  was  continued."  This 
shows  how  late  slavery  was  permitted  in  this  county  and 
what  liberties  the  owners  took  with  their  slaves. 

William  Rinehard,  John  Collier,  Jacob  Wolfe,  John  T. 
Griffin,  John  Beattie,  Sarah  Craig,  John  Denison,  were 
other  names  appearing  at  this  court.  The  jurymen 
whoses  names  have  not  appeared  before,  for  the  Spring- 
term  of  1834,  were  Ishmeai  Veach,  James  Lasley,  James 
McKee,  Gabriel  B.  Sidwell  and  Isaac  C.  Kidd.  The  new 
contestants  in  suits  were  Samuel  Grace,  Jesse  Grigsby, 
Jesse  Pratt,  Lucindy  Webber,  Elizabeth  Davis  and  Thomas 
Hart.  For  the  November  term  of  this  year  the  only  jury- 
men not  mentioned  before  was  James  Hitchcock.  Dr.  B. 
W.  Brooks  was  the  only  new  white  client.  William  Boni- 
face and  John  Bannister,  were  colored  men,  who  had  been 
taken  up  as  runaway  slaves  and  served  their  term  out  as 
the  law  required,  presented  their  certificates  and  were  de- 
clared free.  The  case  of  Harry,  a  man  of  color  vs.  Owen 
Evans  was  continued.  For  the  April  term  of  1835,  the 
new  grand  jurymen  were  Thomas  Pitt,  Benton  Modglin  and 
James  Holt.  Joseph  Young  is  recognized  as  an  attorney  at 
this  court.  Henry  Williams,  Elias  Holmes,  Casper  Weaver 
and  William  Munsun  had  cases  in  this  court.    Owen  Evans 


272  A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


was  acquitted  in  the  case  of  Harry,  the  man  of  color.  David 
Elms,  John  O'Linear,  Beverly  B.  Parker,  Jesse  Pratt,  A. 
M.  Hicklin,  Thomas  Hall,  Christopher  Kelly,  D.  J.  Tucker, 
Allen  Pruet,  Martin  W.  Dorris,  and  Pleasant  Meadows  were 
other  people  interested  in  this  court.  Heretofore  Thomas 
C.  Brown  has  held  all  the  courts  from  1829  to  1835.  At 
October  court,  1835,  the  Hon.  Justin  Harlin,  is  the  Judge, 
Samuel  Copeland  is  the  clerk,  and  Benett  Jones  the  sheriff. 
All  the  names  of  the  grand  jurors  are  familiar.  The  Dis- 
trict Atorney  was  John  Dougherty,  of  Jonesboro,  Illinois. 
William  Howard,  Reuben  Wilson  and  Abraham  Baker  are 
new  contestants  in  this  court,  also  Joseph  Williams  a  man 
of  color,  who  presented  his  certificate  from  Ivy  Reynolds, 
Coroner  of  the  county,  as  having  been  dealt  with  as  the 
law  required  of  a  runaway  slave,  and  obtained  his  freedom. 
One  other  case  pretaining  to  the  heirs  of  Nathaniel  Sidwell. 
The  early  courts  opened  at  8  A.  M. 

At  the  May  court,  1841,  Judge  Walter  B.  Scates  was  in 
charge.  William  McNickol,  N.  P.  Cardwell  and  Samuel 
Short  served  on  the  Petit  Jury.  At  the  November  term, 
same  year,  William  Bullock,  Levi  Rice,  John  Carmichael 
and  Zachariah  McKee  are  new  grand  jurymen.  The  term 
of  court  held  May,  1842  was  under  Judge  Scates,  with  W. 
J.  Allen  as  District  Attorney.  This  is  getting  down  to  such 
a  late  date  as  to  make  the  records  modern.  The  county 
records  are  very  complete  from  1840. 

MISCELLANEOUS  COURT  NOTES 

At  a  court  held  in  1827  Jacob  Harvick  was  fined  fifty 
cents  for  assault  and  battery.  "Ordered  that  John  Oliver 
be  paid  $2.50  for  attending  on  the  court  two  days  and  fur- 
nishing wood,  "November  term,  1820. "  At  the  May  term 
1825,  the  case  of  the  People  vs.  William  Russell,  indictment 
for  giving  a  challenge  to  fight  a  duel.  The  people  were 
represented  by  Sidney  Breeze  and  Russell  was  found  guilty. 
Fee  bills  for  a  suit  brought  by  Reynolds  and  Gray  vs.  W. 
B.  Ward,  June  1840,  justice  docket,  I2V2C,  summons  18:>>  |.c, 
judgment  25c,  execution  25c,  renewing  execution  25c,  miles 
six  at  five  cents,  30c  serving  summons  25c,  total  cost  of 
suit,  $2.11%. 

Account  of  Thomas  C.  Paterson  sheriff,  1815,  debtor 
to  James  Finney  6214c  to  Dr.  Davis  for  note  $6.50,  to  cash 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY  273 


lent  William  Peterson,  $2.121/<>.  Some  cases  recorded 
.March  term,  1814  Richard  McBride  vs.  Elizabeth  Keith, 
Arthur  Love  vs.  Joshla  and  John  Graves,  1815;  Johnathan 
Clark  vs.  E.  Russell  and  wife,  1825,  State  Bank  of  Illinois 
vs.  Randolph  Casey  and  Joshua  Elkins,  1825,  Daniel  Chap 
man  vs.  Jesse  Canady,  1823;  Washington  McFatridge  vs. 
John  Bain  1827 ;  the  people  vs.  Pleasant  Ward,  1814,  Will- 
iam Easton  vs.  John  A.  Magnus,  Stephen  Kuykendall,  late 
of  Center  Township,  had  a  case  in  court,  1815,  Chas.  Meek 
vs.  Adam  Harvick  and  Jesse  Allen,  1815,  King  Hazel  vs. 
Luke  Williams,  1816,  Elisha  Reynolds  and  Thomas  Little 
page  vs.  Hannah  Borin,  1816,  Peggy  Taylor  vs.  Robert  H. 
Loyd,  Patsy  Fisher  and  Owen  Evans,  administrators  vs. 
John  Hays,  Martha  McCall  vs.  Levi  Graham,  1817,  Sus- 
annah Latham  vs.  Alexander  Beggs,  1820,  Susannah  Price 
and  Joseph  Palmer  setled  with  the  court  1820  as  adminis- 
trators of  the  estate  of  Abram  Price.  Thomas  C.  Paterson 
was  allowed  $10.00  for  Prosecuting  Attorney  for  the  past 
year  at  June  court,  1816.  Milton  Ladd  was  ordered  to  lay 
off,  under  the  direction  of  George  Brazil,  one  half  of  the 
whole  length  of  section  10,  township  15,  range  3  east,  June 
1826.  In  1823  James  Copeland  as  sheriff  was  ordered  by 
the  court  to  purchase  one  half  bushel,  one  gallon,  one  quart, 
and  one  half  pint  measures  to  be  of  the  gage  provided  by 
an  act  of  the  General  Assembly  of  the  State.  David  J. 
Baker  was  allowed  $30.00  in  specie  or  $60.00  in  state  paper, 
for  his  services  as  prosecuting  attorney  in  1825.  December 
term,  1825,  Richard  Elkins  was  made  guardian  for  Ezekiel, 
Robinson  and  filed  bond  to  give  him  a  year's  schooling  and 
when  twenty-one  to  give  him  a  horse  worth  $50.00  or  other 
property  worth  that  much  and  one  good  suit  of  clothes,  of 
domestic  manufacture,  1825.  Jasper  and  Elizabeth  Mount 
had  children,  Thomas  M.,  Nancy  J.,  and  Mathias.  These 
children  chose  their  mother  as  guardian,  September,  1820, 
as  their  father  had  died.  One  of  the  first  divorce  cases  is 
found  in  May  court,  1818,  Elizabeth  vs.  John  Elkins. 

George  Smiley  makes  application  for  a  permit  to  keep 
tavern,  March  12,  1814,  Dishon,  Givins  &  Co.,  Thursday 
entered  with  me  for  a  license  to  vend  merchandise,  J.  Fin- 
ney, January  29,  1814.  Weir  &  Craig  had  a  lawsuit  against 
Samuel  Simpson  in  a  court  held  in  1813,  David  Elms  was 
made  guardian  for  the  children  of  William  Fisher,  Levi 
and  Williams,  1818.    April  1828,  the  following  order  from 


274  A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


the  court,  "that  a  tax  of  one-half  percent  be  levied  on  the 
following  kinds  of  property,  to-wit,  on  town  lots,  slaves,  re- 
quistion  and  indentured  negroes  or  mulatto  servants,  pleas- 
ure carriages,  distillers,  stock-in-trade,  horses,  mares,  mule^ 
asses,  neat  cattle  above  three  years  of  age,  and  on  water 
mills  with  their  appendages, 

Grand  jurors  1808,  William  Alexander,  John  Worley, 
James  Henderson  and  William  McLaughlin,  Jacob  Solomans 
Christphor  Lore,  John  Henderson  and  Nathaniel  Sidwell. 
Walter  B.  Scates  presided  at  the  Spring  term,  1837.  Jacob 
C.  Kidd,  Thomas  Pitt  and  Amos  V.  Lasley  were  new  jury- 
men. New  men  in  court  were  Nathaniel  Mullinax,  Elisha 
Cowgill,  James  Teagnor,  J.  M.  Webster.  Jane  Hill,  Admin- 
istratrix of  Curtis  Hill.  Sam  Harrison,  a  man  of  color,  was 
declared  free  by  the  court  under  the  same  law  that  Wash- 
ington Thompson  had  been  freed  the  year  before.  There 
were  several  indictments  against  persons  for  keeping  a 
tippling  house  open  on  the  Sabbath  day,  another  was  fined 
for  playing  at  dice  on  the  Sabbath  at  this  period  it  would 
be  called  "shooting  craps."  Joseph  Strahl,  Solomon  Grace, 
James  Emerson,  Abel  Ford,  Peter  Yokum,  John  Shinall, 
Francis  Marberry,  were  new  names  appearing  on  the  1837 
court  records.  In  1838,  we  have  the  same  judge  and 
officers.  The  defendants  were  Watts  and  Franklin,  W.  B. 
Donaghy,  John  Mclntire,  Wiley  Wise,  Wiley  Simmons, 
Nathan  Richardson,  William  Hooker.  At  the  April  term, 
1839,  Abram,  Nathan  and  Reuben,  men  of  color,  were  in- 
dicted for  some  misdemeanor.  John  Copeland  went  on 
their  bail.  He  was  the  owner  of  at  least  one  of  them,  per- 
haps all.  The  indictment  was  quashed  and  they  were  dis- 
charged. There  is  also  a  case  of  slander,  Thomas  Johnson 
and  wife  vs.  Cornelius  Vanderbilt  and  wife,  tradition  says, 
this  Vanderbilt  family,  who  had  a  beautiful  home  and 
farm  on  the  Ohio  River  opposite  the  Grand  Chain,  was  a 
member  of  the  famous  Vanderbilt  family  of  New  York. 
In  the  November  term  of  court  of  this  year,  Levi  a  man  of 
color,  appeared  before  the  court  and  claimed  freedom  under 
the  law,  which  was  granted.  The  1840  court  shows  some 
names  not  seen  before,  J.  W.  Corbin,  Peter  0,Neal,  Peter 
McMahan,  J.  A.  Rhodes,  Powell  Towler,  and  J.  W.  McKee. 
Jndofe  Sidney  Breeze  held  the  November  term  of  court,  1840 
with  W.  H.  Stickney,  District  Attorney.  Levi  Gifford,  J. 
B.  Spotts,  Henry  Freeman,  J.  K.  Cheek,  are  connected  with 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY  275 


this  court.  John  Fisher  presented  his  bond  of  $10,000  as 
sheriff,  with  C.  C.  Latham,  William  Fisher,  Burrell  Ander- 
son, Berry  Sexton  and  W.  H.  Graves  as  bondsman. 

Copied  from  the  fee  book  of  J.  Finney  Circuit  Clerk, 
John  Bowman  Dr.,  to  James  Finny  Cash:  1814  the  amount 
of  my  fee  in  the  case,  $13.00;  1815,  Capt.  Daniel  T.  Cole- 
man Dr.,  to  same  cash  lent,  $5.00;  1817,  July,  lent  Martin 
Harvick,  $5.00;  October,  1817  William  Garner  cash  lent, 
$3.80,  paid.  Record  and  copy  of  deed,  $2.50.  1817; 
Stephen  Smith  Dr.,  to  James  Finny  M.  $1.00,  3  letter  post- 
age 68V2C  paid.  Hoseah  Borin  Dr.,  to  two  certificates  and 
seals  at  75  cents  $1.50  postage  on  two  letters  25c  each.  50 
certificates  and  seal  75c.  Postage  on  letters  121/2C,  87V2C, 
Benj.  F.  Conner  Certificate  75c  postage  37i/2c,  $1.12V2, 
October,  1817,  Lieutent  William  Townsend  ten  dollars.  To 
postage  28,  $10.28,  December,  1819,  lent  George  Smily  50c. 
John  Smith  letters  50c,  Peter  Slark  Dr.,  for  postage  37V&C, 
Robert  Hargrave  Certificate  75c,  John  F.  Smith,  balance  on 
letters  of  Administration,  paid  $2.50,  October,  1819,  John 
S.  Graves  to  cash,  one  time  $4.00,  at  another  $3.00,  to  post- 
age on  letter,  25c,  $7.25 ;  Milton  Ladd  postage  on  two  letters 
50c,  John  Elkins  Dr.  To  James  Finny  clerk,  for  making 
copv  of  record  by  order  of  his  attorney,  William  Russell, 
1991  words  at  12i/2c  for  every  72— $3.40%  Dr.  Jacob 
Roberson,  by  order  of  his  attorney  William  Russell  Dr.  To 
James  Finny  Clerk,  for  copy  declaration  300  wrords  51V2C, 
James  Brown  Dr.  for  postage  1  at  25c  and  1  at  18  V2,  John 
Bridges  1  at  25c,  Simon  Price  1  at  25c,  Rice  Sams  1  at  18%, 
Hosean  Borin  2  letters  50c.  January  7,  1817,  Robert  Hays 
Dr.  To  James  Finny  Clerk,  for  making  complete  record  in 
the  case  of  Patsy  Fisher  and  Owen  Evans  vs.  John  Hays, 
appraiser,  $4.80.  James  Silton  35c,  1818,  July;  William 
Lawrence,  for  two  copies  of  deed  871/;>c.  Record  1818. 
David  Elms,  for  certificate  and  seal  75c,  1819,  May  26,  John 
Elkins  Dr.  To  James  Finny  Clerk  To  copy,  of  an  indict- 
ment 68c;  July  Isaac,  D.  Wilcox  Dr.  for  8  certificates  and 
seals  at  75c  $6.00,  "Squire  Choat"  tavern  license,  $5.00  paid. 

EARLY  MARRIAGE  DATES 

Daniel  T.  Coleman  and  Lucy  Craft,  1820 ;  John  Tweedy 
married  Mary  Craft  some  time  before  1825;  Martin  Har- 
vick married  Nancy  Fisher,  1821;  Naman  Martin  married 
Temperance  West  Axley,  1825;  Stanton  Simpson  married 


276  A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


Nancy  Higgins,  1831 ;  in  1835  licenses  were  issued  to  James 
T.  Collier  and  Parmelia  Chapman;  Thomas  Mercer  and 
Minerva  Allen;  John  Cooper  and  Betsy  Harrell;  James  H. 
Cooper,  and  Jane  Elliot,  John  Allen  and  Mary  Sarah  Mer- 
cer, Gilbert  H.  Padget  and  Amanda  Chapman;  John  Jones 
and  Esther  Carter,  1839;  Washington  Chapman  and  Cyn- 
thia Jobe,  1835;  John  S.  Copeland  and  Ann  Ward,  1835; 
Joshua  S.  Copeland  and  Elizabeth  Axley,  1835;  Issac  S. 
Copeland  and  Eleanor  Gore,  1835;  Alfred  Copeland  and 
Agnes  Phillips,  1841;  James  Mabrey  and  (Mrs)  Elizabeth 
Copeland,  1841 ;  Alfred  Copeland  and  Katherine  Elkins, 
1844;  John  A.  Copeland  and  Cynthia  A.  Scroggins,  1857; 
John  West  and  Nancy  Ann  Allen,  1859.  James  A.  Mecalf 
married  a  daughter  of  N.  0.  Gray.  The  Metcalfs  resided  in 
that  section  of  the  county  that  made  Pulaski. 

Judging  from  court  records  Bennett  Handcock  married 
Mary  Peterson,  widow  of  Wm.  Peterson,  who  had  the  infant 
children,  Elizabeth,  Joshua  and  Sally,  and  whose  will  was 
written,  1815. 

James  Weaver  married  Mary,  children,  James,  Sophia, 
Mariah;  Mary  widow  of  James  Weaver  married  Thornton. 

OFFICERS 

Johnson  County  Territory  was  included  in  St.  Clair, 
at  its  organization  in  1790.  Thomas  Bradley  was  the  first 
sheriff,  William  St.  Clair  is  given  as  sheriff  the  same  year. 
William  Biggs  was  appointed  coroner  in  1790.  Randolph 
County  was  formed  in  1795,  George  Fisher,  sheriff,  1801 
and  James  Edgar,  1805.  Robert  Moris  and  James  Edgar 
served  as  clerks  of  Randolph  County  between  the  years 
1806  to  1808.  Pierre  Menard,  George  Fisher  and  James 
Finney  were  appointed  Judges  of  the  court  of  common 
pleas  for  Randolph  County,  1806.  E.  Entsminger  was 
deputy  sheriff  in  1809.  John  Bradshaw  and  John  Phelps 
were  appointed  Justices  of  Peace  in  1809.  James  Galbreth. 
sheriff  1809.  Marvin  Fuller,  Nathan  Davis,  and  J.  B.  Mur- 
ry  were  appointed  J.  P.  for  Randolph  County  in  1810.  (This 
was  copied  from  Randolph  County  records.) 

The  County  of  Johnson  was  organized  September  14, 
1812,  and  the  following  officers  were  appointed  by  the 
Governor:  Thomas  C.  Patterson,  sheriff;  Thomas  Furguson, 
Nathaniel  Green,  Judges  of  the  court  of  common  pleas  and 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY  277 


James  Finney,  clerk.  Jessie  Griggs,  who  lived  in  the 
Murphy sboro  neighborhood,  was  appointed  a  Justice  for 
this  county,  1812.  I.  Weaver,  who  lived  in  Center  Town- 
ship, Thomas  Griffith  and  John  Byers,  who  lived  in  the 
section  that  made  Jackson  County  in  1816,  were  appointed 
Justices  of  the  Peace  in  1812.  Henson  Day  and  Thomas 
Green  were  appointed  J.  P.  in  1813,  and  John  Palmer, 
coroner.  Archibald  McAllister,  coroner,  1814,  George 
Hacker,  Jessie  Echols  and  George  Hunsaker  were  J.  P.  in 
1814  and  in  the  same  year  James  Finny  was  appointed 
clerk  of  the  Supreme  Court ;  Gilbert  Marshall  was  appoint- 
ed surveyor.  John  Earthman  was  coroner  in  1815.  Will- 
iam M.  Lammison,  Joshua  Davis,  Vance  Lusk,  William 
Smith,  James  Bain,  John  Bowman  and  Thomas  Lawrence 
were  appointed  J.  P.  in  1815.  Wrilliam  Mears  was  appoint- 
ed District  Attorney  in  1813  and  Thomas  C.  Brown  to  the 
same  office  in  1814.    John  Weldon  was  appointed  J.  P.  in 

1816,  he  lived  on  the  west  side  of  the  county  which  made 
Union  when  it  was  created. 

James  Weaver,  Benjamin  Maneer,  Hosea  Borin,  Will- 
iam Stiles,  Irvin  Morris,  and  Andrew  Cochran  were  ap- 
pointed Justices  for  the  County  in  1816.  Vance  Lusk  and 
James  Whiteside,  T.  Lammison  and  James  Fox  lived  in  that 
section  of  Johnson  that  later  became  Pope  County.     In 

1817,  the  Governor  appointed  John  Copeland,  James  Crunk, 
David  Elms,  John  Whittiker,  George  Brown,  Joseph  Palmer 
Justices.  John  Hargraves,  who  lived  in  Union  in  1818,  sur- 
veyor. 

Commissioners  1818;  Hezekiah  West,  1821,  William 
McFatridge,  1820,  Joseph  McCorcle,  1823,  John  Peterson, 
John  Russell,  1824,  Samuel  Chapman  and  Lancaster  Cox, 
1826;  David  Shearer,  William  B.  Smith,  Rix  Carter  and 
Carter  Latham;  1840,  Elijah  Smith  and  Worthington 
Gibbs,  1837 ;  Ivy  Reynolds,  1853 ;  B.  S.  and  W.  B.  Smith, 
Marvel  Scroggins,  1855 ;  John  Shadrick  and  John  Simmons, 
1857;  Branum  Worrell,  John  Oliver  and  John  N.  Mozley, 
1857;  J.  S.  Toler  and  H.  S.  Lawrence  1858;  William 
Barnwell,  1861;  Jason  B.  Smith,  1866;  Mark  Whiteaker, 
1886;  John  F.  Casper,  1878;  W.  D.  Deans  and  R. 
Brown,  1878;  John  F.  Casper,  1878;  W.  D.  Deans  and  R. 
W.  Brown,  1879;  T.  J.  McCormick;  Lewis  F.  Walker,  1870; 
W.  Y.  Davis,  1872;  T.  M.  Cavitt,  1884;  Green  R.  Casey, 
1893.    So  far  this  list  is  incomplete,  but  from  1914  to  1924 


278  A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


the  list  is  correct.  H.  0.  Cavitt,  J.  L.  Thornton,  J.  C. 
Carter,  H.  W.  Emerson,  William  Nobles,  J.  W.  Rushing,  N. 
J.  Mozley,  J.  C.  Chapman,  J.  Wormack  and  Thomas  Bal- 
lance. 

Sheriffs,  dating  from  1815:  Hamlet  Furguson,  James 
Davis,  Irvin  Morris,  John  Oliver,  James  Copeland,  Samuel 
Copeland,  John  Fisher,  Bennett  Jones,  R.  D.  Hight,  Basil 
Gray,  James  M.  Finney,  D.  C.  Chapman,  F.  C.  Kirkham, 
Lorenzy  D.  Craig,  H.  C.  Carson,  J.  N.  Mozley,  William 
Perkins,  A.  J.  Gray,  J.  H.  Carter,  W.  C.  Allen,  Mark  Whit- 
teaker,  L.  H.  Frizzell,  R.  R.  Ridenhower,  James  F.  White- 
head, M.  A.  Hankins,  John  L.  Veach,  J.  P.  Mathis  and  T. 
C.  Taylor,  who  is  the  present  incumbent. 

County  Judges:  A.  J.  Kuykendall,  1837;  T.  C.  Brown, 
1878;  C.  N.  Damron,  1879;  P.  T.  Chapman,  1882;  T.  J. 
Murry,  1890;  0.  R.  Morgan,  1898;  W.  Y.  Smith,  1900;  W. 
A.  Spann,  1906;  J.  F.  Hight,  1914;  J.  0.  Cowan,  1918. 

County  Clerks :  James  Finney  was  appointed  1812.  No 
other  name  is  found  as  clerk  until  Samuel  Copeland's  name 
appears  1834;  D.  Y.  Bridges,  1834;  I.  N.  Pearch,  1848;  W. 
J.  Gibbs,  1857;  B.  S.  Smith,  1861;  W.  W.  Boyt,  1873;  F.  M. 
Jones,  1877;  J.  W.  Gore,  1886;  W.  H.  Thomas,  1890; 
Thomas,  M.  Gore,  1894;  I.  L.  Morgan,  1902;  E.  F.  Throg- 
morton,  1906,  and  he  has  held  the  office  continuously  since. 

County  Superintendents  of  Schools.  The  first  superin- 
tendent coming  under  the  1855  law,  was  William  Culver, 
J.  S.  Whittenberg,  R.  M.  Fisher,  Thomas  G.  Farris,  P.  T. 
Chapman,  W.  Y.  Smith,  M.  T.  Van  Cleve,  Sara  J.  White, 
berg,  W.  M.  Grissom,  Emma  Rebman,  E.  W.  Sutton,  F.  E. 
Worrell. 

Circuit  clerk:  The  first  persons  to  hold  this  office 
were  S.  C.  Rentfro,  1831  and  John  Dun,  1834.  They  were 
called  "recorder  of  deeds."  In  1864,  J.  S.  Crum  was  elected 
J.  W.  Gore,  1876,  J.  S.  Francis,  1880,  F.  B.  Thacker,  1888, 
L.  J.  Smith,  1892.  C.  W.  Mills;  1904,  Grant  McFatridge, 
1908,  John  W.  Carlton,  1916. 

County  Surveyor:  Gilbert  Marshall,  1815;  Milton  Ladd 
1820;  L.  W.  Fern,  1855;  H.  M.  Ridenhower,  1865;  Joshua 
J.  Scott,  Charles  W.  McCoy,  1871;  W.  B.  Lewis,  WT.  C. 
Watson,  1907;  Clint  Hunt,  1916.  Charles  Hook  was  the 
first  county  supervisor  of  roads,  1914;  John  Sharp  and 
Almus  Ragsdale.  The  latter  is  filling  the  position  at  pres- 
ent, 1924,  John  Sharp,  surveyor,  1924. 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY  279 


States  Attorney:  The  first  States  Attorney  was  C.  N. 
Damron,  elected  in  1874,  A.  G.  Damron,  1878,  Dick  Fisher, 
1882;  G.  B.  Gillespie,  1886;  D.  J.  Cowan,  1900;  T.  H. 
Sheridan,  1908;  H.  A.  Spann,  1912;  0.  R.  Morgan,  1916; 
C.  J.  Huffman,  1920;  O.  R.  Morgan,  1924. 

Assessor  and  Treasurer:  Blewitt  Bain,  1854  and  suc- 
cessively, B.  S.  Smith,  G.  P.  Finney,  John  Slack,  Joel  Du- 
Bois,  Owen  G.  Peterson,  William  B.  Pearce,  F.  B.  Thacker, 
John  S.  Bridges,  T.  B.  Reynolds,  I.  N.  Elkins,  J.  F.  White- 
head, G.  H.  Huffman,  H.  V.  Carter,  W.  F.  Marberry, 
Charles  Peterson  and  Paul  E.  Phelps. 

TOWNSHIPS 

There  are  nine  townships  in  Johnson  County,  namely 
Goreville,  Elvira,  Cache,  Tunnel  Hill,  Bloomfield,  Vienna, 
Burnside,  Simpson  and  Grantsburg. 

Goreville  is  in  the  north  west  corner  of  the  county  and 
was  settled  by  the  Gores,  Adams,  Barnards,  Carrol  Craigs, 
Dunns,  Kelleys,  Newtons,  Walkers,  Stanleys,  Ridenhowers 
and  Parrishes.  Madison  Parrish  was  a  Justice  of  the  Peace 
for  many  years  and  served  as  an  associate  of  the  county. 
G.  P.  and  West  Sullivan  were  settlers  of  this  township  be- 
fore the  Civil  War.  They  were  educated  men  and  G.  P.  did 
what  one  would  call  a  country  lawyer's  business,  such  as 
writing  wills,  filling  out  papers  and  justice  work.  His 
children  were  Marcellus,  (called  Bud)  Lycurgus,  Rhoda 
and  Mathilda.  West  was  a  teacher,  and  had  one  daughter 
who  married  a  Mr.  Russell.  The  Sullivans  were  from  the 
South  and  Democrats  in  politics  and  Goreville  Township 
is  still  the  stronghold  of  that  party  in  our  county.  A  few  of 
the  farmers  living  there  at  present  are:  J.  M.  Francis,  A. 
M.  Smith,  W.  P.  Gore,  J.  A.  Carlton,  J.  N.  Maze,  M.  M. 
Pickles,  D.  A.  Stone,  John  A.  Vancil,  Charles  Patrick,  J. 
H.  Hudgens,  Benjamin  Johnson  and  T.  C.  Crawford.  Gore- 
ville is  the  principal  town. 

Elvira  lies  south  of  Goreville  and  borders  Union  Coun- 
ty on  the  west.  The  first  settlers  here  were  Worleys,  Little- 
tons, Elkins,  Stokes,  Graves,  Barnetts,  Morrises,  Mangums 
and  a  little  later  the  Pearces,  Ragsdales,  Suits  and  Browns. 
Among  the  farmers  of  this  section  today  are :  J.  K.  Elkins,. 
J.  B.  Suit,  Dr.  Charles  Nobles,  Dr.  W.  P.  Robertson,  J.  C. 
Grinnell,  John  W.  Gocldard,  F.  M.  Hunsaker,  George  John- 
son, Melvin  Jones,  Claude  Beggs,  E.  L.  Ragsdale,  Ad  and 
Sherman  Smith,  George  M.  Mozley,  L.  F.  Poor  and  Charles 


280  A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 

Truelove.  Buncombe  is  the  main  village  and  Pleasant 
Grove  Center  is  situated  in  this  township. 

Cache  joins  Elvira  on  the  south  and  its  southern 
boundary  is  formed  by  Cache  river.  It  was  settled  almost 
as  early  as  Elvira  by  the  West.  Carter,  Mercer,  Peterson, 
Axley,  Gore  and  Bridges  families  some  of  whom  were  as 
early  as  1810.  The  Peeler,  Martin,  Casper,  Wilhelm  fam- 
ilies came  about  the  fifties.  Cypress  and  Belknap  are  the 
main  towns  of  this  division  and  a  few  of  the  good  farmers 
are  L.  A.  Mulkey,  J.  C.  Carter,  J.  L.  Beanard,  W.  J.  Jones, 
Frank  Capron,  L.  S.  Beggs,  P.  T.  Chapman,  J.  M.  Brown, 
D.  C.  Casper,  W.  0.  Peeler,  Frank  Penrod,  Lee  Moak, 
Charles  Marshall  and  Mrs.  Sabine  Mason. 

Tunnel  Hill  is  on  the  northern  border  of  the  county 
and  just  east  of  Goreville.  It  has  Tunnel  Hill  for  its  main 
village,  and  its  first  settlers  were  Choats,  Goddards,  Hobbs, 
Whiteheads,  Kuykendalls,  Cavitts,  Bradleys,  McMahans  and 
Mitchell  Webb  who  was  the  founder  of  a  large  family. 
Andrew  Kelley,  a  man  held  in  high  esteem  by  his  neighbors, 
Joseph  was  the  head  of  the  Smith  family.  His  children 
were  William,  Joseph,  Isaac,  Richard,  Mathilda  and  Hiram. 
Most  of  these  families  with  the  Vinsons  and  Simmons  are 
members  of  the  church  of  the  Latter  Day  Saints.  When 
this  church  was  broken  up  at  Nauvoo,  Illinois,  these  fam- 
ilies located  in  this  township.  They  have  intermarried  so 
that  their  descendants  are  most  all  related.  Other  families 
settling  here  about  the  fifties,  were  John  Ridenhower, 
Felix  Boyt,  Burkalows,  Carsons  and  the  D.  C.  Chapmans. 
Some  of  the  present  residents  are  G.  H.  McMahan,  Guy 
Beauman,  A.  G.  Benson,  J.  B.  Cavitt,  the  family  of  the  late 
A.  N.  Webb,  Isiah  Lowery,  J.  L.  Mohler,  and  David 
Cover,  Jr.  The  Centralia  Fruit  and  Orchard  Co.,  is  located 
in  this  township. 

Bloomfield  lies  almost  in  the  center  of  the  county  and 
was  a  part  of  Cache  Township  when  it  was  organized.  It 
was  settled  by  the  Caseys,  Harvicks,  McFatridges,  Thac- 
kers,  Bains,  Daniel  Chapman,  Sr.,  Taylors,  Finneys,  Odoms 
and  Petersons.  Bloomfield  is  the  name  of  the  largest  town. 
Farmers  living  there  now  are  J.  S.  Plater,  J.  N.  Benson,  I. 
N.  Davies,  John  Taylor,  0.  W.  Ruppert,  George  W.  Mathis, 
T.  F.  Travis,  L.  J.  Smith,  J.  M.  Brown,  and  the  Shetlers. 

Vienna  lies  south  of  Bloomfield.  The  families  of  James 
Bain,  Mathew  Mathis,  Henry  Beggs,  John  Oliver,  James 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY  281 


Jones,  Samuel  Chapman,  James  and  J.  L.  Hogg,  Jackson 
Simpson,  David  Shearer  and  Thos.  Johnson  were  the  first 
residents.  A  few  years  later  came  the  families  of  Dr.  Dam- 
ron,  A.  J.  Kuykendall,  Redden,  Henry,  Burnett,  John  Bain, 
Farris,  Donaghy  and  Hight.  Vienna  is  the  seat  of  justice 
and  the  principal  town  of  the  county.  It  is  situated  in  the 
northwest  part,  in  section  5.  West  Vienna  and  Foreman 
are  other  villages  in  the  township.  Some  of  the  progressive 
farmers  are  J.  C.  Johns,  L.  T.  Farris,  J.  L.  Lindsey,  John 
Dunn,  D.  W.  Mathis,  Milo  Clanahan,  J.  W.  Shinn,  A.  Hook, 
R.  R.  Ridenhower,  J.  M.  Farris,  T.  J.  Cowan,  Jr.  H.  L. 
Bridges,  J.  C.  Chapman  and  A.  E.  McKenzie. 

Burnside  is  located  in  the  north  east  corner  of 
the  county.  The  Harper,  Choate,  Lawrence,  Howerton, 
Damion,  Gill,  Whiteaker,  Burton,  Ballance  families  were 
a  few  of  the  early  settlers  of  this  township.  It  is  known 
as  the  fruit  growing  section  and  some  of  the  residents  and 
farmers  are  J.  C.  B.  and  J.  W.  Heaton,  F.  B.  Hinds,  Nor- 
man W.  Casper,  J.  W.  Choat,  G.  W.  Murphy,  J.  W.  Rush- 
ing, J.  M.  Safford,  and  J.  R.  Chester.  New  Burnside  and 
Ozark  are  the  villages  of  this  township. 

Simpson  is  south  of  New  Burnside  and  borders  Pope 
County  on  the  east,  it  had  its  first  settler  in  1805,  William 
Simpson,  from  whom  it  took  its  name.  Other  early  settlers 
were  McKees,  Veaches,  Barnwells,  Whitesides,  Kerley, 
Keltners,  Scotts,  Simmons,  Murrays  and  Mounts.  Simpson 
is  a  thriving  villiage  of  this  section.  Some  of  the  farmers 
and  fruit  growers  are :  T.  B.  Murray,  T.  B.  Mount,  J.  W. 
Reynolds,  T.  B.  Kerley,  W.  H.  Grissom,  J.  H.  Taylor,  C.  W. 
and  Otto  Murrie  and  J.  L.  Thomas. 

Grantsburg  corners  with  Massac  and  Pope  Counties 
on  the  south  east.  Some  of  the  first  settlers  here  were: 
Walkers,  Pors,  Cummins,  Marberys,  Helms,  J.  B.  Smith, 
Green  B.  Veach,  Pleasant  Rose,  Sr.,  Grissoms,  Modglins, 
Bowmans,  Bains,  Pearces,  Fishers  and  Allen  Jones.  Wart- 
race,  New  Grantsburg  and  Ganntown  are  the  principal 
centers  and  some  present  farmers  are ;  E.  E.  Farquahar,  F. 
M.  Simmons,  J.  D.  Wormack,  W.  J.  Miller,  E.  E.  Morgan, 
Otis  Nelson,  W.  F.  Hight,  Charles  Shelton,  Delaskey 
Walker,  E.  E.  Trovillion,  L.  P.  Morris,  C.  H.  Gray,  Pleas- 
ant Rose,  W.  P.  Walker  and  John  Hand. 


282  A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


EARLY  TOWNS 

The  towns  or  settlements  located  on  the  Ohio  River 
within  the  original  bounds  of  Johnson  County  were:  Ft. 
Massac  (see  Clark's  Trail),  Wilkinsonville,  Napoleon,  Cale- 
donia, Trinity  and  America. 

Wilkinsonville,  Reynolds  says  in  his  history  written 
1825  "General  Wilkinson,  who  was  a  British  Governor  of 
the  northwest  territory,  appointed  in  1769,  built  canton- 
ment Wilkinson."  In  the  History  of  Union,  Pulaski 
and  Alexander  Counties,  quoted  from  Bradley,  "General 
Wilkinson  ascended  the  Ohio  River  about  the  close  of  the 
war  of  1812,  to  the  head  of  the  Grand  Chain,  with  a  large 
body  of  troops,  and  built  expensive  barracks.  When  the 
troops  were  removed,  it  fell  into  decay  and  there  is  nothing 
left  but  graves  to  designate  the  place."  Which  statement 
is  correct  one  cannot  say.  There  is  a  plausible  reason 
why  the  fort  might  have  been  built,  if  it  had  been  1806  or 
1807,  as  General  Wilkinson  of  the  United  States  Army  was 
understood  to  be  connected  with  Burr's  conspiracy  and  this 
fort  would  have  been  useful  if  Burr's  plan  had  carried. 

Joshua  Copeland,  born  1812,  and  whose  father  lived 
near  the  site  of  this  old  fort  said,  he  remembered  the  drill 
grounds  as  a  boy,  but  the  buildings  had  all  fallen  into  decay, 
which  could  hardly  have  happened  if  they  had  been  con- 
structed in  1812.  Victor  Collet,  a  Frenchman  in  his  "Notes 
on  a  Journey  in  North  America"  describes  Wilkinson  as 
follows:  "Wilkinsonville  was  about  half  way  between  Ft. 
Massac  and  the  mouth  of  the  Ohio.  It  stands  upon  a  beau- 
tiful savannah  of  one  hundred  acres  sixty  or  seventy  feet 
above  the  river.  It  is  a  place  of  little  or  no  trade  and  has 
sensibly  declined  since  it  lost  the  patronage  of  a  govern- 
ment garrison." 

Eli  Clemson,  father  of  James  Y.,  was  said  to  have 
been  one  of  the  founders  of  the  town  of  Napoleon,  not  a 
vestige  of  which  remains  to  tell  where  it  stood.  James  Y. 
had  a  beautiful  home  and  farm  on  the  Ohio  River  just  above 
old  Caledonia  the  latter  part  of  1800. 

Caledonia  was  known  as  the  Block  House  before  1817. 
There  is  some  tradition  about  the  remains  of  an  ancient  cir- 
cular fort  or  enclosure,  with  openings  on  two  or  more 
sides,  on  the  site  of  or  near  old  Caledonia.  Those  describ- 
ing it  say  in  the  early  part  of  the  19th  century  there  were 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY  283 


large  trees  growing  on  the  top  of  this  wall,  or  mound,  but 
if  there  are  any  remains  of  this  fort  at  present  they  are 
invisible  and  no  one  living  knows  of  such  a  place.  Caledonia 
was  at  one  time  a  very  thriving  town,  being  the  seat  of 
justice  for  Pulaski  County,  but  when  the  county  seat  was 
moved  to  Mound  City  and  the  Big  Four  Railroad  was  built, 
Olmstead  the  station  nearest  Caledonia  absorbed  the  popula- 
tion. 

Trinity  was  built  at  the  mouth  of  Cache  River  "and 
founded  in  1817  by  James  Riddle,  Henry  Bechtle,  Thomas 
Slough  of  Cincinati,  and  Steven  and  Henry  Rector  of  St. 
Louis.  Dr.  William  Alexander  and  John  Dougherty  were 
their  agents.  In  1822,  several  buildings  were  erected,  a 
first  class  store,  a  warehouse,  a  fine  dwelling  and  tavern, 
including  a  billiard  room.  It  continued  to  thrive  for  some 
time  but  a  greater  part  of  it  was  destroyed  by  fire  in  1831. 
Captain  Webb  estimated  his  loss  at  $50,000.  It  was  finally 
abandoned  about  1835. 

America  was  founded  about  1821,  a  short  distance 
from  Trinity  but  was  soon  abandoned.  But  when  the  Big- 
Four  Railroad  was  built  the  station  near  its  site  took  the 
name  of  America. 

Tradition  says  the  Russell  settlement  was  located  11  or 
12  miles  north  of  where  America  is  now,  on  Cache  in  1812. 
Obidiah  Russell  had  a  ferry  and  mill  on  Cache  in  Johnson 
County  in  1816  and  this  was  probably  the  Russell  settle- 
ment. Hues  had  a  mill  in  the  county  in  1816  which  tradi- 
ment.   Hughes  had  o  mill  in  the  county  in  1816  which  tradi- 

ELVIRA 

Elvira  is  only  a  neighborhood  at  present  of  about  three 
or  four  farmhouses,  and  has  not  even  a  postoffice.  It  is 
situated  northwest  of  Vienna,  about  ten  miles,  near  Lick 
Creek,  and  the  original  town  was  settled  about  1806.  John 
Bradshaw  and  Isaac  Worley  were  some  of  the  early  resi- 
dents. Jacob  Littleton  was  licensed  to  keep  tavern  there  in 
1818.  It  was  made  the  county  seat  of  Johnson  at  its  organ- 
ization, 1812,  and  our  first  courts  were  held  there.  Peck 
tells  us  that  it  had  thirty  or  forty  inhabitants  in  1837  and 
evidently  did  not  lose  all  its  population  and  business  at  the 
time  the  county  seat  was  moved  to  Vienna.  The  location 
of  the  first  court  house  erected  there  more  than  one  hundred 


284  A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


years  ago  can  be  plainly  seen  and  the  building,  judging 
from  the  foundation  was  about  thirty-five  by  twenty  feet, 
built  of  hewed  logs  and  had  a  large  fireplace  in  each  end. 
The  foundation  rocks  for  the  chimneys  are  still  in  place, 
although  a  little  ways  under  ground  as  this  site  is  now  in 
a  cultivated  field,  but  the  roadway  that  ran  through  the 
town  is  still  visible.  The  arch  rock  of  one  of  these  old 
fireplaces  is  used  by  a  neighbor  as  a  doorstep.  The  Daniel 
Chapman  Chapter,  Daughters  of  American  Revolution  of 
Vienna,  have  a  bronze  tablet  to  mark  this  old  site.  The 
nearby  spring  that  supplied  the  residents,  judges  and 
lawyers,  who  frequented  old  Elvira  more  than  a  century 
ago,  still  sends  its  thirst-quenching  stream,  as  freely  to  us 
now  as  John  Bradshaw,  Isaac  and  John  Worley,  Jane 
Morris,  our  first  lady  retail  liquor  dealer  and  all  the  eminent 
men  who  visited  there.  "Men  may  come  and  men  may  go, 
but  it  flows  on  forever.,, 

REYNOLDSBURG 

This  was  at  one  time,  possibly  about  the  latter  part 
of  the  fifties,  a  flourishing  inland  village  in  Burnside  town- 
ship. It  was  one  of  the  oldest  community  centers  in  the 
county  and  was  first  called  Cross  Roads.  It  was  built  on 
the  farm  of  Wesley  Reynolds,  and  a  post  office  was  estab- 
lished there  which  was  kept  by  Mr.  Reynolds,  who  also 
operated  a  large  general  store.  The  place  took  its  name 
from  the  Reynolds  family  and  the  widow  of  T.  B.  Reynolds, 
son  of  Wesley,  still  resides  on  this  farm.  One  of  the  oldest 
churches  of  the  county  is  located  at  this  place.  T.  J.  Cook 
had  a  store  there  about  1860  and  F.  M.  McGee  another  a 
little  later.  John  Dupont  operated  a  grain  mill  there  and 
Charles  A.  McCoy  was  another  old  resident.  Dr.  Josiah 
Whitnel,  who  lived  near,  was  the  neighborhood  physican, 
practicing  there,  throughout  his  professional  life.  The 
Reynoldsburg  Masonic  Lodge  was  organized  in  1865,  the 
(see  Tunnel  Hill.)  When  the  Big  Four  Railroad 
was  built  the  neighboring  towns  absorbed  the  business  and 
population  of  Reynoldsburg,  and  there  is  nothing  remaining 
of  this  once  busy  little  place  but  the  old  church,  which  is 
situated  on  a  hill  with  one  of  those  wonderful  views  of 
which  Johnson  County  has  so  many. 

GOREVILLE 

Goreville  has  been  a  voting  and  trading  place  since 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY  285 


before  the  sixties.  John  Gore  settled  there  about  1850,  and 
carried  on  a  general  store  during  his  life.  A  postoffice  was 
established  soon  after  the  Civil  War  and  was  named  in 
honor  of  Mr.  Gore.  His  first  residence  was  a  log  house  and 
is  still  standing  although  enclosed  with  weather  boarding. 
Mr.  Gore  belonged  to  one  of  the  oldest  families  of  the  coun- 
ty. As  early  as  1875  there  was  a  store,  a  blacksmith  shop; 
a  postoffice  and  two  or  three  dwellings,  all  stood  on  the 
lett  side  of  the  road  going  north.  Among  the  dwellings 
was  the  present  residence  of  Mrs.  Mattie  Jones,  (daughter 
of  John  Gore)  and  built  by  him.  New  Goreville  is  a  short 
distance  north  of  this  old  town,  built  in  1899  on  the  farms 
of  Joel  Hubbard  and  Mike  Jones.  Some  of  the  founders 
were  Ed.  Hicks,  Ebert  Thulen,  T.  A.  Bradley,  J.  U.  S., 
Henry,  John  and  William  Terry,  Isaac  Simmons,  Newlin 
and  Hudgens.  There  is  a  tall  frame  building  about  midway 
between  the  site  of  the  old  village  and  the  new.  It  was 
built  soon  after  the  Civil  War,  and  is  known  as  The  Hall. 
The  upper  story  is  a  Masonic  hall  and  the  lower  one  is 
used  by  different  denominations  for  church  service.  J.  H. 
Morphis,  a  Presbyterian  minister  says  he  preached  there  in 
1875  and  that  they  used  candles  to  light  the  church.  The 
Goreville  Masonic  Lodge  is  quite  an  old  institution  and  was 
first  held  in  the  upper  story  of  the  residence  of  Dr.  Tine 
Whitnel,  where  Charles  Calhoun  now  lives,  directly  across 
the  railroad  from  the  new  town.  The  new  village  was  in- 
corporated in  1900.  The  population  then  was  406,  1910, 
554;  1920,  700.  It  had  a  very  destructive  fire  in  1907. 
Goreville  has  maintained  a  weekly  newspaper  for  a  time 
at  different  periods,  the  history  of  which  is  found  under 
"The  Press."  The  First  National  Bank  of  Goreville  was 
organized  in  1905,  with  T.  A.  Bradley,  president,  M.  M. 
Pickles,  Vice-President,  R.  A.  Parks,  cashier.  J.  B.  Hud- 
gens was  later  made  cashier  and  has  filled  this  position  for 
a  number  of  years.  The  Citizens  State  Bank  was  opened 
there  in  1917  by  G.  H.  McMahan,  with  Evertt  McMahan  as 
cashier.  John  Grissom  is  now  president,  M.  M.  Terry,  cash- 
ier. History  of  Goreville  could  scarcely  be  written  without 
mentioning  John  H.  Jones,  as  he  was  a  resident  in  the 
vicinity  for  more  than  fifty  years.  Thomas  M.  Jones,  a 
prominent  educator  of  the  county  and  a  descendant  of  one 
of  the  oldest  families,  has  been  identified  with  the  village 
in  several  ways,  and  resides  in  the  community.  At  a  pa- 
troitic  day  held  at  Goreville,  June  5th,  1917,  there  was  dis- 


286  A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


played  an  old  flag,  which  had  belonged  to  John  A.  Logan's 
regiment,  the  31  Illinois  Volunteer.  The  flag  was  carried 
by  John  Burlison,  who  had  borne  it  during  the  war.  There 
is  a  modern  brick  school  building  where  the  two  first  years 
of  high  school  are  taught  in  connection  with  the  grades. 
They  have  two  church  buildings,  Methodist  and  Baptist,  ten 
stores,  two  restaurants,  with  seven  or  eight  brick  business 
buildings,  two  grist  mills,  an  elevator,  a  lumber  yard,  three 
garages,  and  three  blacksmith  shops.  It  is  situated  near 
the  center  of  Goreville  township  and  northwest  of  Vienna, 
about  twelve  miles,  the  second  largest  town  in  the  count3r. 

The  Nipper  and  Gould,  American  Legion  Post  of  Gore- 
ville, was  organized  in  1920.  It  was  named  in  honor  of  Ray 
Nipper  and  Harvey  Gould.  The  first  commander  was  R. 
E.  Wiggins,  and  M.  M.  Terry  the  first  Adjutant.  The 
charter  members  were:  R.  E.  Wiggins,  R.  G.  Benson,  E.  Y. 
Smith,  M.  M.  Terry,  J.  C.  Rushing,  Jake  and  Henry  Prit- 
chet,  Lawrence  Chamness,  Iva  0.  Toler,  John  Royster, 
Frank  Stevens,  Everett  and  Harry  Thornton,  Clifford  Webb 
Thomas  Peterson,  Oscar  Walker.  This  Post  has  a  member- 
ship of  seventeen. 

BUNCOMBE 

This  progresive  little  town  was  named  for  Buncombe 
County,  North  Carolina,  the  name  tradition  says,  was  sug- 
gested by  Levi  Casey,  a  resident  of  the  neighborhood,  who 
had  emigrated  from  that  county  and  state.  It  was  for 
many  years  an  inland  place  with  a  post  office,  a  store  and 
a  blacksmith  shop,  and  the  ever  necessary  country  doctor. 
Caesar  Cohn  was  one  of  the  first  merchants  of  this  town, 
who  later  moved  to  Vienna.  When  the  Chicago  and  Eastern 
Illinois  railroad  was  built  through  the  county  it  came 
direct  to  this  location.  Buncombe  has  grown  into  a  popu- 
lation of  about  400,  in  thirty-five  years,  and  was  incorp- 
orated into  a  village  in  1916.  It  has  one  bank,  with  Calvin 
Mathis  as  cashier,  seven  merchants,  two  churches,  a  mill, 
and  automobile  sales  store,  a  standard  public  school,  with 
two  years  of  high  school  and  about  a  half  mile  of  as  fine 
hard  road  as  one  can  find.  It  is  about  six  miles  northwest 
of  Vienna  and  was  built  on  the  farm  of  W.  J.  Suit.  W.  J. 
and  J.  B.  Suit  and  T.  Proctor  were  some  of  the  founders. 
The  Buncombe  mill  and  Elevator  Co.,  was  composed  of  J. 
J.  Robertson,  J.  B.  Suit,  J.  K.  Elkins  and  other  substantial 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY  287 

farmers,  who  built  a  mill  and  elevator  there  in  1905.  This 
is  now  owned  and  operated  by  F.  S.  Kuykendall  (recently 
sold  to  a  Mr.  Williams.) 

WARTRACE 

Wartrace  is  a  small  inland  community  about  six  miles 
east  of  Vienna.  It  was  first  called  Grantsburg  and  is  still 
known  as  old  Grantsburg.  S.  D.  Poor  was  a  merchant  there 
for  many  years  and  was  in  reality  its  founder.  W.  J.  Fern 
was  physician  there  in  the  sixties  and  Dr.  Lewis  Walker 
was  a  resident  physician  there  throughout  his  life  where 
his  widow  still  resides.  When  the  Illinois  Central  Railroad 
was  built  it  missed  this  place  and  the  new  town  built  on 
the  railroad  took  the  name  of  New  Grantsburg  and  in  look- 
ing around  for  a  name  for  this  place  it  is  said  to  have 
taken  its  new  name  from  the  hanging  of  a  horse  thief  by 
the  farmers  of  that  section.  Soon  after  the  wTar  a  bush- 
whacker came  across  the  river  stole  a  horse  and  killed  the 
owner.  He  was  hung  by  a  mob.  The  inhabitants  hoped 
this  would  be  the  last  trace  of  war  in  that  section,  and  it 
was.    It  has  about  25  inhabitants. 

TUNNEL  HILL 

Tunnel  Hill  is  a  village  at  the  head  of  a  short  tunnel  on 
the  Rig  Four  Railroad,  and  was  settled  at  the  time  the  road 
was  built.  Captain  J.  B.  Gillespie  was  a  resident  there  in 
1871.  Dr.  N.  M.  Hudson  and  brother  owned  a  drug  store 
there  and  Dr.  Hudson  practiced  medicine  there  about  that 
time.  Sylvester  Whitehead  and  J.  F.  Graham  were  in  busi- 
ness there  about  1873.  D.  F.  Beauman  of  the  firm  of  Beau- 
man  and  Bunn  located  there  about  the  same  year.  Dr.  W. 
J.  Fern  was  also  an  early  resident.  Abram  Cover  came 
there  from  Union  County  and  built  a  flour  mill  some  time 
in  the  70\s.  The  Nipper  family  first  resided  at  Sanborn, 
but  later  moved  to  Tunnel  Hill.  The  Reynoldsburg  Masonic 
Lodge  No.  419  was  organized  at  Cedar  Creek  church  1865, 
the  charter  members  were;  L.  D.  Fern,  James  Whitehead, 
Mike  Emory,  Josiah  Whitnel  and  Lewis  Yandell.  This 
lodge  was  moved  to  Sanborn  in  1875  and  in  the  following 
year  to  Tunnel  Hill,  where  it  continues  to  thrive  with  a 
membership  of  thirty-seven.  The  business  men  of  Tunnel 
Hill  at  present  are:  Robert  Gilliam,  D.  E.  Vurbel,  S.  H. 
Taylor.    At  present  it  has  one  restaurant,  two  churches,  a 


288  A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 

grade  school  and  population  of  about  200.    It  is  surrounded 
by  tine  orchards  and  good  farmers. 

Sanborn  was  a  place  of  some  business  and  a  small 
population  but  has  declined  to  two  or  three  residences. 

NEW  BURNSIDE 

New  Burnside  is  situated  in  Burnside  Township  in  the 
north  east  corner  of  the  county  on  the  Big  Four  Railroad. 
It  was  laid  out  in  1872  from  the  farms  of  Newell  Phillips 
and  Thomas  McMichael,  Sr,  and  is  named  in  honor  of  Gen- 
eral Burnside  of  Civil  War  fame,  who  was  president  of  the 
Cairo  and  Vincennes  R.  R.  Company  which  constructed 
this  road,  and  at  the  suggestion  of  Capt.  Mark  Whiteaker. 
The  reason  for  the  sudden  development  of  this  town  was  the 
discovery  of  coal  at  this  place  by  George  H.  Huffman  while 
digging  out  a  spring  in  the  year  1875.  The  mine  was 
worked  a  short  time  by  Huffman  and  James  A.  Smith,  but 
later  leased  to  Captain  James  A.  Vial,  in  1877  who  worked 
the  mine  in  paying  quantities  for  about  four  or  five  years. 
The  demand  for  coal  in  this  section  at  that  time  was  not 
so  great  as  now  and  the  usual  shipments  did  not  exceed 
twelve  car  loads  per  day,  although  the  capacity  of  the  mine 
was  much  greater.  This  coal  was  not  of  the  highest  grade, 
and  after  the  discovery  of  the  fine  veins  of  coal  at  Harris- 
burg  and  the  financial  failure  of  the  operator,  this  mine  was 
abandoned,  except  for  a  little  digging  for  local  use. 

J.  F.  Gray  built  the  first  residence  on  the  site  of  G.  W. 
Lauderdale's  home,  the  first  store  building  and  opened  the 
first  store.  Dr.  W.  R.  Mizell  was  the  first  physican  there 
and  built  the  second  residence,  where  he  still  resides.  There 
were  at  one  time,  twenty  business  house  in  Burnside 
Among  the  men  conducting  businesses  then  were:  F.  M. 
McGee,  David  Shearer,  T.  A.  Edmondson,  John  Caldwell, 
P.  W.  Redden,  J.  B.  Gillespie,  Beese  Trammel,  Will  and 
Dave  Harris ;  John  DuPont  built  and  operated  a  large  flour- 
ing mill ;  James  W.  Heaton,  Sr.,  Joseph  and  Albert  Dugger, 
William  Donahue,  F.  M.  Jones  and  Robert  Branum.  Thomas 
M.  son  of  F.  M.  and  Ann  Jones  was  the  first  child  born  in 
the  town. 

There  were  three  churches,  Methodist,  Christian  and 
Baptist  erected  in  1876,  and  a  Catholic  church  built  some 
time  later. 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY  289 


The  town  was  at  its  height  in  1878-9.  The  population 
reached  1,200  and  in  1883  still  had  1,000  inhabitants.  TTie 
mine  store  did  a  $35,000  business  in  1880.  Burnside  began 
to  decline  in  1881  and  by  1907  the  number  of  residents  had 
fallen  to  400.  At  present  there  is  a  population  of  about 
350,  and  seven  stores.  The  first  bank  of  the  county  was 
organized  at  this  place  about  1879,  but  was  later  moved  to 
Vienna.  There  has  never  been  any  colored  people  in  the 
town,  nor  a  licensed  saloon.  In  1903,  there  were  thirty-one 
pensioners  of  the  Civil  War,  living  in  and  near  New  Burn- 
side,  demonstrating  that  this  locality  had  few  slackers  dur- 
ing one  of  the  critical  periods  of  our  country's  history. 
Since  its  settlement  there  has  always  been  some  fruit  grown 
around  New  Burnside,  but  it  was  not  until  1890  that  the 
orchard  business  began  to  increase  and  by  1905  it  had  be- 
come the  principal  business.  A  local  in  the  county  paper 
in  1895  says,  "There  is  about  $600  paid  out  every  week  for 
green  apples  at  New  Burnside," 

A.  M.  Thompson,  who  was  sent  out  by  the  Horticul- 
tural Dept.,  Washington,  D.  C,  stated  in  his  report  of  1917 
that  New  Burnside  was  the  largest  shipping  point  for  early 
apples  that  he  found  in  the  United  States. 

New  Burnside  Lodge  A.  F.  and  A.  M.  No.  772  was 
chartered  in  1884  with  Mark  Whiteaker  as  Master,  James 
W.  Hood  as  Sr.  Warden  and  James  A.  Smith,  Jr.  Warden. 
Other  charter  members  were :  W.  R.  Mizell,  J.  A.  and  W.  H. 
Whiteaker,  W.  F.  Morris,  J  F.  Casper,  J.  F.  Gray,  J.  M. 
Beggs,  T.  A.  Edmondson,  W.  VanCleve,  F.  M.  McGee,  J. 
M.  and  W.  L.  Keltner,  O.  J.  and  R.  M.  Wise,  W.  R.  Little, 
J.  F.  Graham,  J.  B.  Gillespie,  W.  J.  Haley,  J.  C.  Cadwell,  G. 
W.  Smoot,  D.  J.  Wallace,  J.  M.  Wright,  J.  H.  Clymoore,  H. 
S.  Parsons,  B.  Belford,  W.  B.  Lewis,  J.  N.  Berry,  John  Du- 
pont,  B.  F.  Neeley  and  J.  F.  Blanchard. 

The  I.  O.  O.  F.  Lodge  No.  625  was  organized  1876  with 
the  following  members ;  James  L.  Furguson,  D.  E.  Shearer, 
S.  C.  Bradford,  Mark  Whiteaker,  Thomas  M.  Cavitt,  Robert 
H.  Wise,  W.  H.  McKinney,  James  M.  Wright,  W.  P.  Throg- 
morton,  and  Amos  Burns,  who  is  the  only  member  now 
living  in  Burnside. 

The  Rebeckah  Lodge,  121,  was  organized  in  1883  with 
the  following  members :  John  Dupont  and  wife,  D.  C.  Cope- 
land  and  wife,  W.  R.  Rodman  and  wife,  T.  F.  Waters  and 


290  A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


wife,  John  M.  Keltner  and  wife,  J.  N.  Berry  and  wife, 
James  L.  Furguson  and  wife  and  Albert  Dugger  and  wife. 
Mrs.  Dona  Berry  is  the  only  one  of  the  charter  members 
retaining  her  membership  in  this  lodge.  It  now  has  a 
membership  of  sixty-three. 

The  William  Lawrence  Post  794,  G.  A.  R.,  was  organ- 
ized in  May,  1900,  with  sixty  members.  In  1923  it  has  de- 
creased in  membership  to  seven.  F.  M.  Taylor,  J.  A.  Rus- 
sell, J.  J.  Simpson  Dr.  W.  R.  Mizell,  S.  P.  Snyder,  William 
Killgore  and  H.  C.  Laybourn.  The  charter  has  since  been 
given  up. 

New  Burnside  has  the  distinction  of  having  a  resident 
who  has  not  missed  attending  a  Sunday  School  in  thirty- 
two  years,  Mr.  H.  C.  Laybourn.     (Since  died.) 

BELKNAP 

Belknap  like  most  of  the  other  towns  of  our  county 
sprang  up  with  the  building  of  the  Big  Four  Railroad,  per- 
haps a  little  later  than  those  north  of  it.  It  is  situated  in 
the  southern  extension  of  Cache  Township  and  near  the 
Massac  and  Pulaski  county  lines.  John  Shadrick,  W.  D. 
Deans  and  J.  P.  West  were  possibly  the  first  merchants 
there,  established  about  1874.  W.  L.  Williams  opened  a 
store  there  in  1876  and  has  no  doubt  been  a  resident  and 
business  man  there  longer  than  any  other  person.  There 
were  several  saw  mills  in  and  near  the  town  in  its  early 
settlement.  George  Morgan  operated  a  saw  mill  there  in 
1875.  W.  L.  Williams  and  W.  D.  Deans  built  a  flour  mill  in 
Belknap  in  1877.  Since  the  timber  has  been  cleared  and 
wheat  is  raised  in  such  small  quantities  saw  and  flour  mills 
are  no  longer  profitable.  W.  P.  Brown,  L.  L.  Oglesby  and 
J.  C.  DeWitt  were  business  men  in  Belknap  in  1881.  James 
R.  Evers  was  a  resident  there  in  1889,  also  W.  L.  Currey, 
W.  B.  Carter  and  W.  A.  Burns.  In  1900  Belknap  had  a  pop- 
ulation of  500.  O.  P.  Martin  was  the  doctor  for  Belknap 
and  the  surounding  country  for  many  years.  Other  phy- 
scians  located  there,  remained  a  short  time,  and  moved 
elsewhere,  but  Dr.  Martin  was  a  part  of  Belknap.  There 
are  at  present  six  stores,  two  restaurants,  four  churches, 
namely,  Christian,  Methodist,  Baptist  and  Pentacostal ;  one 
modern  brick  school  building  in  which  the  grades  and  two 
years  high  school  are  taught.  The  present  population  of 
this  village  is  400. 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY  291 


The  Charcoal  Chemical  Co.,  is  situated  within  a  short 
distance  of  the  town  and  operated  by  Berger  Brothers  of 
Chicago. 

SIMPSON 

This  miniature  city  is  situated  about  ten  miles  east  of 
Vienna,  on  the  Illinois  Central  Railroad.  It  was  built  on 
the  farm  of  J.  M.  Simpson  in  1888,  and  took  its  name 
from  the  Simpson  family  which  was  without  doubt  one  of 
the  first  to  come  to  this  county.  Some  of  the  founders  of 
this  thriving  little  place,  were  Thomas  Veach,  Dr.  J.  T. 
Looney  Thomas  W.  and  Frank  M.  Jones,  Benjamin  Will- 
iams, J.  W.  Browning,  John  Whiteside,  John  L.  Mount,  W. 
E.  Jenkins,  Dr.  T.  B.  Kerley,  L.  H.  and  Authur  Compton. 
A  bank  was  organized  in  Simpson  in  1910,  with  J.  E.  Can- 
as  president  and  Charles  W.  Lancaster  as  cashier.  This 
bank  was  sold  and  in  1919  the  State  Bank  of  Simpson  was 
organized  with  T.  B.  and  D.  R.  Kerley  and  J.  W.  Reynolds 
as  promoters.  There  was  a  fine,  small  flour  mill  which  was 
built  in  1890  and  operated  by  J.  B.  Kuykendall  and  J.  F. 
Wright.  It  was  called  the  Daisy  Roller  Mill.  It  burned 
1917.  Simpson  was  incorporated  as  a  village  in  1893,  and 
had  a  population  in  1900  of  187.  In  1910  it  had  reached 
200,  and  now  has  171  inhabitants.  They  have  one  church, 
Baptist  in  denomination,  one  hotel,  five  stores,  a  Ford  Sales 
store  and  garage,  and  J.  W.  Reynolds  has  operated  a  monu- 
ment factory  there  since  1890. 

CYPRESS 

Cypress  is  a  neat  and  thriving  village  situated  on  the 
Chicago  and  Eastern  Illinois  Railroad,  about  seven  miles 
southwest  of  Vienna,  in  the  heart  of  the  best  farming  coun- 
try in  the  county.  It  was  built  on  a  portion  of  J.  H. 
Lowery's  farm,  and  began  to  develop  about  1898.  Lincoln 
Green  Post  Office  which  had  been  established  near  this 
place  many  years  ago,  and  was  first  called  Gray's  Mill,  was 
moved  to  Cypress.  The  town  probably  took  its  name  from 
the  tall  cypress  trees  that  grew  near  it  in  Cache  bottom. 
It  was  the  home  of  William  Whitemore,  Sr.,  who  was  a 
prominent  citizen  here  during  the  Civil  War.  The  popula- 
tion is  about  500.  There  are  many  pretty  homes  in  Cy- 
press. They  have  two  physicians,  Dr.  William  Thompson 
and  Dr.  P.  W.  Rose,  one  bank,  Farmers  and  Merchants 


292  A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


State,  which  was  organized  in  1908.  They  also  have  a 
splendid  school  with  a  two  year  high  school  course,  housed 
in  a  modern  brick  building,  one  lumber  yard,  two  churches, 
two  hotels,  several  stores  and  restaurants.  This  is  the 
junction  of  the  Joppa  Branch  with  the  main  line  of  Chicago 
and  Eastern  Illinois  rail  road. 

REEVESVILLE 

Reevesville  takes  its  name  from  W.  and  A.  Reeves,  who 
were  first  to  see  the  possibility  -of  a  town  at  this  place. 
They  built  a  box  house  there  about  1888  and  opened  a  dry 
goods  store.  They  were  instrumental  in  having  the  town 
platted.  It  was  called  Wellington  in  the  beginning,  but 
Reevesville  being  the  name  of  the  Post  office,  the  town  fin- 
ally became  Reevesville  too.  Reeves  Brothers  also  operated 
a  saw  mill  there  for  several  years  In  the  year  1890 
it  had  a  population  of  100.  It  is  located  on  the  Illinois 
Central  railroad  in  the  southeast  section  of  the  county  and 
is  the  junction  of  the  Golconda  branch  with  the  Paducah 
Division  of  this  railros  d. 

OZARK 

Ozark  is  a  small  village  in  Burnside  Township,  located 
on  the  Illinois  Central  Railroad,  and  was  founded  about 
1888.  Some  of  its  first  settlers  and  business  men  were  F. 
M.  Barnwell,  M.  M.  Sullins,  Rev.  J.  L.  Morton  was  the  first 
Postmaster  and  James  Haley  was  the  village  blacksmith. 
Hopewell  Baptist  Church  was  moved  there  in  1891  and  is 
now  known  as  the  First  Baptist  Church  of  Ozark.  It  is 
not  incorporated  and  has  a  population  of  about  125.  Some 
of  the  present  merchants  are  Dewey  McCormick,  J.  W. 
Harper  &  Son,  Green  Sullins,  J.  R.  Barker,  C.  C.  Sullins 
and  Walter  Keener.  The  Bank  of  Ozark  was  organized  in 
1921  with  Green  Sullins,  J.  W.  Burnett,  W.  S.  Brim,  L.  M. 
Smith,  Otto  E.  Stout,  C.  P.  0,Neal,  R.  F.  Taylor,  J.  R. 
Barker,  J.  W.  Rushing  as  promoters  and  J.  O.  Moore  as 
cashier.  Ozark  is  one  of  the  main  shipping  points  for  fruit 
in  this  county,  the  Fruit  Growers  Co-Operative  Warehouse 
is  located  here. 

BLOOMFIELD 

This  little  village  is  one  of  the  oldest  in  the  county 
having  been  a  post  office  as  early  as  1819.    The  first  post 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY  29^> 


master  there  was  S.  J.  Chapman,  who  tradition  says,  tried 
to  make  it  the  county  seat  as  it  was  near  the  geographical 
center  of  the  county.  Daniel  Simpson  kept  tavern  in  Bloom- 
field,  1824.  It  was  on  the  old  Jonesboro  and  Golconda  road, 
but  it  never  had  more  than  one  store  and  a  postoffice,  and 
these  may  not  have  been  exactly  at  the  present  location,  as 
country  post  offices  were  moveable.  Jonathan  Waters  who 
came  here  from  North  Carolina  and  settled  on  what  is  now 
the  Bloomfield  stock  farm,  owned  by  Mr.  Rupert,  laid  out 
the  town  on  his  land  soon  after  the  Big  Four  Railroad  was 
completed  through  that  section.  Francis  Cooper  kept  the 
fiist  store  there.  Hiram  Woiiey  erected  a  building  and  put 
in  a  store  about  1875,  which  was  first  owned  by  the  Grange, 
a  farmers  organization  of  the  county.  Worley  finally  took 
over  the  store  and  continued  business  there  until  his  death. 
He  also  kept  the  postoffice.  James  Powell  who  was  a 
chaii maker  was  another  old  resident.  J.  B.  Morray,  Jr., 
lived  just  west  of  the  town  on  the  old  road.  Some  other 
business  men  were  S.  T.  Williams,  W.  H.  Mangum,  N.  G. 
Growder  who  kept  a  blacksmith  shop  there  for  many  years. 
More  recent  merchants  were  W.  G.  Whiteside,  T.  C.  Taylor 
and  N.  Davis.  Some  later  residents  were  W.  I.  and  W.  D. 
Dill,  W.  H.  Jobe,  J.  L.  Pfleuger,  resided  there  many  years; 
P.  F.  Fitzgerald  has  also  been  a  long  time  resident.  There 
are  about  six  or  eight  dwellings,  one  store,  kept  by  WT.  G. 
Whiteside,  a  Methodist  Church,  and  a  public  school  buifti- 
ing  at  present.  The  first  resident  physician  was  Dr.  Wm. 
Thompson,  who  moved  there  about  1874  continuing  his 
work  for  about  twenty  years.  Dr.  R.  A.  Hale  who  was  a 
graduate  of  the  Louisville  Medical  College,  and  of  the 
Missouri  Medical  College  at  St.  Louis,  located  there  about 
1895  and  practised  there  until  his  death. 

RIDENHOWER 

Ridenhower  was  a  settlement  on  the  land  of  H.  M. 
Ridenhower,  Jr.,  where  the  Belknap  road  crosses  the  Big 
Four  Railroad,  consisting  of  a  store,  sawmill,  and  a  few 
residences.  It  was  given  the  name  of  Collinsburg,  but  the 
state  department  refused  to  allow  this  name  used,  it  being 
so  much  like  like  Collinsville.  This  village  has  long  been 
abandoned. 

Ganntown  is  a  neighborhood  center  in  the  southeast 
part  of  the  county  with  a  few  nearby  homes,  a  church,  a 


294  A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


Masonic  lodge  and  an  Eastern  Star  Chapter.     It  took  its 
name  from  William  Gann  on  whose  farm  it  is  situated. 

WEST  VIENNA 

West  Vienna  is  a  station  on  the  C.  &  E.  I.  Railroad, 
situated  about  four  miles  west  of  Vienna,  and  is  the  nearest 
point  from  Vienna  to  this  railroad.  It  is  the  junction 
of  the  Chicago,  Burlington  and  Quincy  and  the  Chicago  and 
Eastern  Illinois  Railroad.  They  have  one  school,  a  church, 
two  stores  and  75  inhabitants.  The  post  office  is  named 
Boles  from  a  family  by  that  name  living  there  several 
years  ago.    The  village  was  settled  about  1899. 

VIENNA 

Like  Chicago,  we  were  in  the  beginning,  an  Indian 
trading  post,  and  though  much  older  we  can  claim  no  other 
likeness  to  our  windy  metropolis.  The  earliest  history  to 
be  found  outside  the  records  of  Johnson  County  are  in 
Peck's  Gazetteer,  published  in  1837.  He  says,  "Vienna,  the 
county  seat  of  Johnson  County,  is  situated  on  the  east  fork 
of  Cache  River;  contains  twenty-five  of  thirty  families  and 
three  stores.  The  main  road  from  Golconda  to  Jonesboro 
and  Jackson,  Missouri,  passes  through  the  place."  The 
story  of  the  deed  made  by  Samuel  McClintock  of  Shawnee- 
town,  Ilinois,  and  the  laying  off  of  the  town  on  the  10th 
day  of  April,  1818,  has  been  told  elsewhere.  The  original 
plot  of  Vienna  began  on  the  east  side  with  the  lot  now  be- 
longing to  James  Bridges,  and  parallel  with  the  bond  issue 
road,  it  ran  west  to  just  beyond  the  Perkins  House,  south 
beyond  the  John  Bain  residence,  then  east  and  north  back 
to  the  place  of  beginning,  so  as  to  include  thirty  acres,  and 
forming  a  rectangle  with  the  longest  sides  running  east  and 
west.  There  has  been  several  additions  since  1818.  S.  J. 
Chapmans  being  the  first  added  in  1838,  Basil  Gray  and  S. 
J.  Chapman,  1855,  Copeland's  1855,  Smith  1887,  Simpson's 
1888,  Whittenberg  and  Frizell's  1893,  Whittenberg's  1895, 
Sheridan's  1896,  there  were  two  in  1903,  Hatt's  and  Hess's! 
Hess's  second  addition,  1912.  Beginning  on  the  east  and 
running  north  and  south  the  streets  are  numbered  from 
First  to  Tenth,  the  streets  running  east  and  west  are  named. 
The  street  passing  south  of  the  library  is  Locust.  Main 
Street  runs  into  the  square  which  divides  it,  and  is  known 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY  295 


as  East  and  West  Main.  Vine  street  is  the  next  on  the 
north  and  runs  the  entire  length  of  the  town.  The  short 
street  north  of  Vine  is  Washington.  The  next  street  north 
on  the  brow  of  the  hill  and  running  the  length  of  the  town 
is  Green,  the  street  just  beyond  Green  on  the  northwest 
and  intersecting  Sixth  street  is  College. 

Our  first  aldermen  were  James  Finny,  Irvin  Morris, 
John  W.  Gore,  John  Copeland,  and  William  Simpson,  who 
"were  appointed  commissioners  of  the  town  lately  laid  off 
for  a  permanent  seat  of  justice  at  the  April  term  of  court, 
1818."  This  county  seat  is  situated  in  sections  five  and  six, 
township  13,  range  3  east,  county  of  Johnson.  At  the  July 
term  of  court  of  the  same  year  this  town  was  ordered  to  be 
called  Vienna.  Tradition  says,  it  was  named  in  honor  of 
the  daughter  of  William  McFatridge,  but  William  McFat- 
ridge  had  no  daughter  named  Vienna.  His  wTife  was  named 
Anna.  In  looking  over  an  old  family  tree,  this  record  was 
found,  "Frank  Hayward  married  Vienna  Reynolds,  1841. " 
There  is  no  other  knowledge  of  Vienna  Reynolds,  but  it  is 
probable  that  if  named  for  a  person,  this  might  have  been 
the  person  for  whom  the  town  was  named.  The  Reynolds 
family  was  an  old  one  in  the  original  county.  It  is  also 
thought  by  some  the  town  took  its  name  from  the  Capitol 
of  Austria. 

The  sale  of  lots  was  advertised  in  the  "Illinois  Emmi- 
grant,"  published  in  Shawneetown,  Illinois,  and  the  follow- 
ing parties  were  the  original  purchasers :  the  first  one  sold 
was  lot  number  40,  facing  the  square  and  running  back  on 
South  Fifth  Street,  now  owned  by  Lawrence  Fern,  the 
building  is  known  as  the  telephone  building.  This  lot  was 
owned  by  Alfred  Bridges  in  1833.  He  may  have  been  the 
first  owner.  He  also  owned  lot  number  2,  in  1823.  Others 
buying  lots  were  Jesse  Canady,  James  Smith,  Irvin  Morris 
bought  lots  number  18  and  40,  Isaac  D.  Wilcox,  James 
Finney,  bought  lot  19,  but  the  deed  was  made  to  Joseph 
McCorcle  as  assignee  of  James  Finney;  James  Bain's  lot 
was  number  25,  Martin  Harvick  number  29,  Robert  Han- 
cock, John  S.  Graves,  Randolph  Casey,  Squire  Choat, 
Charles  E.  Irvin,  Joseph  McCorcle,  Milton  Ladd,  Robert 
Little,  John  Copeland,  Ivy  Reynolds  lot  number  30  which 
was  bought  later  by  James  Jones,  James  Hawkins,  George 
Brazil,  John  Peterson,  Samuel  S.  Simpson,  Daniel  Simp- 
son,  James  Jones,    Isaac   Gray   and   William   McFatridge. 


296  A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


As  will  be  seen  from  the  list,  many  of  these  men  were  not 
residents  of  the  town,  but  as  the  purchase  money  was  used 
to  build  and  furnish  the  county  buildings,  they  no  doubt 
bought  with  the  idea  of  helping  the  county.  There  seems  to 
be  no  buildings  standing  now  that  were  built  at  that  time. 
The  oldest  houses  of  the  town  were  made  of  logs  and  later 
weatherboarded.  The  oldest  now  standing  is  owned  and 
occupied  by  Isaac  Hook,  as  a  residence.  It  was  built  by 
Dr.  Gerry,  some  time  around  1850,  and  is  on  the  northwest 
corner  of  the  second  block  from  the  public  square  on  East 
Main  street.  The  two  story  building  recently  burned, 
(1924),  just  across  Poplar  street  and  directly  south  of  the 
library  was  a  part  of  the  residence  of  Dr.  Gibbs  and  form- 
ally stood  on  the  public  library  lot,  which  had  been  his 
residence  property.  It  was  built  about  1840.  Another  old 
dwelling  also  built  about  this  time  by  Dr.  A.  P.  Stewart 
stands  on  West  Vine  Street,  between  Seventh  and  Eighth, 
and  is  now  occupied  by  Charles  J.  Huffman.  Ivy  Reynolds, 
lived  on  the  south  side  of  East  Vine  street  about  midway 
between  the  square  and  the  bridge  that  crosses  the  drainage 
ditch,  on  or  near  the  present  site  of  the  residence  of  Grant 
McFatridge.  Basil  Gray,  father  of  A.  J.  Gray,  lived  on 
East  Vine  Street  about  where  the  present  residence  of 
Joseph  R.  Woelfle  now  stands.  Col.  D.  Y.  Bridges,  father 
of  the  late  Elizabeth  Bratton,  resided  on  the  lot  where  the 
home  of  Mrs.  T.  B.  Powell,  now  stands  and  in  about  the 
same  place.  Capt.  J.  B.  Gillespie  who  came  to  Vienna  in 
1855  says  when  he  came  here,  there  were  just  three  huoses 
on  the  north  side  of  East  Main  Street  where  Farris'  livery 
barn  is  now  located,  and  just  two  on  the  south  side  of  the 
street.  There  were  only  two  log  cabins  west  of  Seventh 
Street  and  a  blacksmith  shop  was  the  only  building,  north 
of  Green  and  west  of  Sixth. 

Ivy  and  Rebecca  Reynolds  sold  lot  34  to  Fields  &  Dunn, 
1834.  Daniel  Fields  owned  lot  12  which  is  where  Jackson 
Bros,  store  is  now  located,  and  lot  14  where  the  First 
National  Bank  is  standing.  The  present  home  of  F.  R. 
Woelfle  was  built  by  Frank  Hayward  for  a  residence  for 
himself,  several  years  before  the  war.  Hayward  came  here 
to  visit  his  relatives,  the  Chapmans,  and  being  a  carpenter, 
constructed  many  of  the  earlier  buildings  of  the  town.  On 
leaving  here  about  1858  for  the  west  he  sold  this  property 
to  F.  J.  Chapman,  son  of  S.  J.  the  pioneer.     Hayward  also 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY  297 

built  the  house  on  the  corner  of  Sixth  and  West  Vine,  now 
owned  by  Mrs.  Bertie  Boyt,  occupied  by  W.  L.  Calborn's 
poultry  business.  The  house  which  stood  where  the  C.  M. 
Picken's  residence  is,  and  which  was  cut  and  moved  to 
College  street,  making  the  homes  of  Samuel  Lang,  and 
Coleman  Upton,  was  built  for  a  home  by  Dr.  David  Whitnel, 
father  of  L.  0.  before  the  Civil  War,  and  later  became  the 
home  of  Dr.  W.  A.  Looney.  Dr.  Bratton's  residence  was 
built  1858.  The  builders  were  Priestly,  Boyt  and  Warder. 
Hon.  A.  J.  Kuykendall  built  the  house  now  occupied  by  H. 
A.  Spann  for  a  residence  in  1859.  These  are  some  of  the 
oldest  frame  buildings  in  the  town  and  have  been  in  con- 
stant use  for  more  than  three  quarters  of  a  century.  The 
brick  residence  of  John  Bain,  Sr.,  on  South  Fifth  street  was 
built  in  1860  and  is  owned  by  the  Bain  heirs  and  is  occupied 
as  a  residence  by  John  C.  Bain  and  W.  G.  Jackson. 

James  Bain  was  the  oldest  citizen  in  the  neighborhood 
of  Vienna.  His  settling  here  is  given  more  fully  in  another 
chapter,  but  an  incident  related  by  J.  B.  Kuykendall  will 
illustrate  the  resourcefulness  of  some  of  our  first  settlers. 
Mr.  Bain  built  a  two  story  house  on  his  farm  just  north  of 
the  town,  with  four  fireplaces  in  it,  two  in  the  first  story 
and  two  in  the  second.  He  made  and  burned  the  bricks 
used  in  these  chimneys  himself.  He  used  them  during  his 
life  time  and  Mr.  Kuykendall  bought  some  of  them  at  Mr. 
Bain's  sale  years  afterward.  They  did  duty  as  bricks  in  a 
house  Mr.  Kuykendall  built  forty  years  ago,  and  are  still 
to  be  seen  in  the  foundation  of  this  house  which  was  de- 
stroyed by  fire  in  1920.  Some  other  residences  of  a  little 
later  date  were  Col.  Samuel  Hess,  who  lived  on  the  corner 
of  Sixth  and  Green,  George  E.  Gleener's  present  residence, 
Samuel  Copeland,  son  of  John  the  Pioneer,  lived  in  1850, 
where  Norman  Mosley  now  lives,  also  on  Green  street. 
There  was  a  log  house  which  stood  on  the  lot  at  Vine  and 
Eighth,  where  P.  T.  Chapman  now  lives,  in  1851,  and  was 
occupied  by  Turner  Jones,  father  of  Mrs.  Hattie  Perkins. 
Some  of  the  residents  of  Vienna  in  1857  given  by  Eliza 
Dwyer  were:  Walker  and  M.  E.  Circuit  rider;  Dave 
Shearer,  who  did  the  work  in  the  County  Treasurer's  office ; 
Miss  Driver,  a  teacher ;  Dr.  Damron,  Carter,  a  faith  doctor ; 
Daniel  Kincy;  Louis  Hogg;  Grantum;  Calvin  Corbitt; 
Whitemore,  hotel  keeper;  Lasley,  Newton  Pierce,  merchant 
Frank  Smith,  and  William  Chapman. 


298  A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


The  following  names  were  found  on  an  old  collectors 
book  for  Vienna,  1858;  Henry  Bechtle,  John  A.  Bridges, 
Dennis  Dwyer,  H.  J.  Lasley,  Hogg  &  Hatt,  A.  P.  Stewart, 
W.  E.  Morris,  Winstead  Davis,  Payton  Culver,  B.  W. 
Broks'  heirs,  W.  J.  Gibbs,  Robert  Little,  Samuel  Hess, 
David  Whitnel,  Ashley,  Kuykendall  &  Smith,  Joseph  N. 
Newton,  guardian  for  Elmira  Bridges,  D.  T.  Kincy,  John 
Wright,  Leonard  Morgan,  H.  B.  Sutliff,  Elizabeth  Burris, 
William  H.  Chapman,  J.  B.  Chapman.  These  advertise- 
ments taken  from  the  Johnson  County  Journal,  M.  A. 
Smith,  publisher ;  will  give  an  idea  of  the  business  men  here 
in  1877 :  Layers  W.  A.  Spann,  0.  A.  Harker,  R.  M.  Fisher, 
Henry  B.  Hardy,  T.  Chapman,  C.  N.  Damron,  Elijah  Goss, 
N.  P.  John  S.  Crum,  Real  Estate;  Physicans,  Drs.  J.  M.  C. 
Damron,  T.  R.  Burris,  George  W.  Elkins,  George  Bratton, 
N.  J.  Benson;  Dentists,  N.  M.  Gray,  P.  S.  McKenzie;  St. 
James  Hotel;  Boyd  Steel,  aker;  J.  W.  Field,  Pastor  M.  E. 
Church,  J.  F.  Smith,  Drygods;  W.  A.  Mason  &  Norman 
Slack,  Starmill ;  A.  R.  Beard,  W.  E.  Beal,  Groceries ;  Christ 
Bengert,  tinner;  W.  E.  Gleener,  Nursery;  C.  Corbit,  mer- 
chant. The  following  advertisements  are  almost  ten  years 
later;  J.  B.  Chapman,  H.  T.  Bridges,  Cohn,  Chapman  & 
Co.,  Miller  &  Jobe,  Powell  &  Benson,  Julius  Parker,  J.  K. 
Brown,  J.  B.  Kuykendall,  James  Card,  L.  C.  Throgmorton, 
W.  I.  Joiner,  Hugh  Wallace,  Bank  of  Vienna,  Carter  &  Har- 
vick,  Walker  and  Lambert. 

Some  early  merchants  of  Vienna  were  Ward  &  En- 
sminger,  1833 ;  P.  L.  Ward  who  was  a  member  of  this  firm 
lived  here  in  1827,  he  may  have  been  a  merchant  that  early, 
Issac  D.  Wilcox  was  a  merchant  in  1818,  Field  and  Dunn  in 
1836.  It  is  certain  there  were  three  merchants  here  in  1837 
and  these  may  have  been  the  three.  T.  J.  Church  was  a 
merchant  here  some  time  in  1837,  Daniel  Field  in  1841, 
Reynolds  &  Gray  1842,  D.  Y.  Bridges  1844,  N.  B.  Jenett, 
1845,  John  Bain  1846,  Dishon  &  Provo,  who  were  residents 
of  Jonesboro,  Illinois,  had  a  store  here  under  the  manage- 
ment of  James  Hammons  in  1851,  Easton  Morris  kept  a 
store  in  the  fifties  where  Jackson  Bros,  now  keep ;  S.  B. 
Braver,  1857 ;  Pearse  and  Scott,  1859 ;  Bridges  &  Chapman, 
1852,  Chapman,  Hess  and  Bridges  were  business  men  here 
in  1857  and  erected  the  Chapman  brick  on  the  northwest 
corner  of  the  square  and  Fifth  street.  F.  J.  Chapman,  son 
of  S.  J.,  Col.  Sam,  Hess  and  D.  Y.  Bridges  were  the  men 
composing  this  firm.      The    building   was    orginally    three 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY  299 


stories  high,  contained  an  elevator  and  the  third  story  was 
used  as  a  storage  room  for  tobacco,  of  which  this  county, 
at  that  time  producted  a  great  deal.  This  first  brick  busi- 
ness house  of  Vienna  was,  and  still  is,  a  monument  to  those 
progressive  men  of  that  day.  All  the  material  except  the 
brick  had  to  be  hauled  for  miles  from  some  point  on  the 
river.  All  manufactured  goods  were  shipped  by  boat  to 
Golconda,  Metropolis  Maybry,  or  some  other  landing  near, 
and  transported  by  wagons  to  the  town.  Also  all  produce 
that  was  sent  out  was  likewise  hauled  from  fifteen  to 
twenty-five  miles  to  the  river,  Anna,  or  Dongola  after  the 
completion  of  The  Illinois  Central  Railroad  to  Cairo.  John 
McCabe  built  the  stone  foundation  for  this  building,  George 
Hosea  put  up  the  brick,  and  William  Priestly,  Joseph 
Warder,  Felix  Boyt  and  James  Stockdale  did  the  carpenter 
work.  The  lower  story  was  used  first  by  Chapman  and 
Hess  as  a  general  store,  Bridges  having  died  before  its  com- 
pletion. C.  Cohn  and  J.  N.  Poor  were  the  next  occupants, 
then  followed  Cohn,  Poor  and  Chapman,  after  them  came 
Chapman  Brothers,  P.  T.  and  J.  C,  and  D.  L.  The  next 
occupant  was  the  Chapman  Store  Co.,  P.  T.  Chapman,  L.  A. 
Knowles,  D.  W.  Whittenberg,  J.  K.  Elkins,  Cass  Oliver, 
J.  C.  Chapman,  and  John  Sloan  forming  the  company  at 
different  times.  W.  B.  Bain  bought  out  the  Chapman  Store 
Co.,  and  did  business  in  the  building  for  some  time.  J. 
Spieldoch  conducted  a  drygoods  and  clothing  business  there 
for  about  eighteen  or  twenty  years  until  1923,  when  he 
removed  to  St.  Louis  where  he  has  engaged  in  the  merchan- 
tile  business.  The  third  story  was  blown  off  this  building 
in  1878,  the  second  story  was  used  as  an  amusement  hall 
for  many  years.  No  doubt,  the  person  doing  business  in 
Vienna  for  the  longest  period  of  time  was  John  Bain.  He 
having  begun  here  in  1846,  first  in  a  log  building  on  the 
site  of  the  residence  of  W.  E.  Beal,  later  moving  to  the 
corner  on  the  west  side  of  the  square  and  west  Main  Street. 
He  formed  a  partnership  with  Samuel  Jackson  in  1861,  and 
continued  a  general  merchandise  business  till  1897,  when 
Mr.  Bain  died.  Mr.  Jackson  carried  on  the  business  till  his 
death. 

The  original  Perkins  Hotel  was  built  by  Jackson  Simp- 
son^  before  the  Civil  War.  It  was  owned  and  occupied  by 
L.  W.  Hogg  as  a  residence  in  1857.  The  first  building  was 
a  two  story  log  house,  which  was  enclosed  with  lumber  and 
a  frame  part  added.    William  Perkins  opened  a  hotel  there 


300  A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


1866.  A.  J.  Perkins,  his  son  bought  the  hotel  in  1891  and 
erected  the  present  building  in  1894.  This  has  been  the 
site  of  a  hotel  for  almost  sixty  years,  and  under  the  super- 
vision of  the  Perkins'  family. 

Isaac  D.  Wilcox,  was  licensed  to  keep  tavern  in  the 
town  of  Vienna,  September,  1818.  Randolph  Casey  and 
Ivy  Reynolds  followed  the  same  year.  These  proprietors 
had  to  pay  licenses  and  furnish  bonds.  All  tavern  keepers 
sold  liquor  in  those  days.  Milton  Ladd  kept  tavern  in  1820, 
also  S.  J.  Chapman,  son  of  Daniel,  the  Revolutionary 
soldier.  His  hotel  and  residence  was  on  the  east  side  of  the 
square  about  where  the  post  office  is  now  located.  Other 
early  landlords  were,  Robert  Little,  1823;  James  Hawkins, 
Jesse  R.  Morris,  1827;  Abraham  Hendry,  1825.  Some  a 
little  later  were  Louis  Hogg,  William  Whitemore,  1.  N. 
Pearce,  Daniel  Kincy.  J.  B.  Chapman  built  the  St.  James 
Hotel  about  the  last  of  the  fifties,  and  operated  it  for  sev- 
eral years.  Others  running  this  hotel  later,  were  Mrs. 
Gibbs,  Keruth,  T.  Chapman,  Dr.  P.  S.  McKenzie,  J.  F.  Ben- 
ton, and  L.  A.  Knowles.  The  hotel  stood  about  where  the 
Hubbs  Building  is  now  located,  owned  by  F.  M.  Huffman, 
it  was  destroyed  by  fire  in  1895.  The  Central  Hotel  a  large 
brick  building  was  erected  on  the  south  side  of  the  square 
in  1894  by  M.  T.  VanCleve  and  A.  Harvick,  and  was  de- 
stroyed by  fire  about  a  year  later.  F.  J.  Chapman,  son  of 
J.  B.  built  a  hotel  on  the  corner  of  Fourth  and  East  Vine 
about  1898  and  operated  it  for  several  years.  This  building 
is  now  occupied  by  Lucas  Parker. 

The  first  church  gatherings  of  the  town  were  held  in 
the  courthouse  and  school  building.  The  oldest  denomina- 
tion was  probably  presbyterian,  but  it  seems  to  have  lost 
its  opportunity  at  this  place,  as  there  has  been  no  church 
here  for  years.  The  oldest  church  building  was  a  large  two 
story  brick,  which  stood  where  the  first  Baptist  church  now 
stands.  The  second  story  of  this  building  was  owned  and 
used  by  the  Masonic  Fraternity,  and  was  a  wonderful  hall 
for  their  purpose,  being  seventy  feet  long  by  forty  wide. 
The  first  story  was  used  by  the  churches,  the  history  of 
which  was  taken  from  the  "Vienna  Times,"  1907,  is  as  fol- 
lows, "The  Union  Church  with  Masonic  hall  above  was 
razed  in  the  spring  of  1907.  The  following  was  found  in 
a  tin  box,  which  had  been  placed  under  the  corner  stone  of 
the  building  in  1859,  one  silver  coin,  fifty  cent  piece,  said 
to  have  been  put  in  by   Samuel  Jackson,  one   Bible,   five 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY  301 


newspapers,  a  copy  of  the  "Metropolis  Weekly  Sentinel" 
dated  May  26,  1859,  addressed  to  M.  S.  Smith  (father  of 
W.  Y.),  copy  of  "Jonesboro  Gazettee,"  dated  May  21,  1859, 
addressed  to  F.  C.  Kirkham,  Copy  of  "St.  Louis  Observer," 
dated  May  19,  1859,  addressed  to  S.  Copeland ;  copy  of 
Christian  Times  and  Illinois  Baptist"  dated  Chicago,  May 
25,  1859,  addressed  to  Samuel  Hess.  Copy  of  "Society 
Record"  New  York,  dated  December,  1858,  addressed  to  W. 
M.  Hamilton.  The  account  of  the  laying  of  the  corner 
stone  follows:  In  the  year  of  our  Lord,  1859,  fifth  day  of 
June,  by  order  of  the  Board  of  Trustees,  appointed  by  the 
citizens  of  Vienna  viz.  A.  J.  Kuykendall,  president;  S. 
Copeland,  F.  J.  Chapman,  S.  Hess,  A.  Harvick,  J.  B.  Chap- 
man, Secretary.  This  manuscript  together  with  all  deposit-? 
herewith  included  was  placed  in  the  corner  stone  of  the 
Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church  at  Vienna  by  the  hands 
of  Woods  M.  Hamilton,  minister  of  the  Gospel  of  said 
church.  The  erection  of  said  church  under  the  supervision 
of  George  Hosea,  chief  architect,  aided  by  a  number  of 
workman  good  and  true."  The  house  was  erected  in  reality 
as  a  Presbyterian  Church  but  it  was  with  the  understand- 
ing that  it  was  to  be  used  as  a  Union  Church,  especially  as 
to  the  Baptist  and  Methodists.  The  lumber  used  in  the 
construction  of  this  building  was  hauled  from  Gray's  mill 
beyond  Cypress,  with  ox  teams.  The  bell  on  it  was  donated 
by  the  merchants  of  Louisville,  Kentucky.  A  great  many 
if  not  all  of  our  merchants,  bought  their  goods  at  that  time 
in  that  city.  Hence  the  generousity  of  their  business  men. 
This  bell  is  still  in  use  on  the  First  Baptist  Church  and  is 
remarkable  for  its  clear  and  far  reaching  tone. 

We  have  at  present  five  churches  in  our  village.  The 
Baptist,  erected  their  present  building  in  1907-08  on  the 
site  of  the  old  Union  Church.  It  was  dedicated  in  1909  by 
Reverend  W.  P.  Throgmorton.  They  have  a  resident  pas- 
tor. The  Methodist  Episcopal  also  has  a  resident  pastor. 
They  with  the  other  denominations  used  the  Union  Church 
till  1896,  when  they  built  the  present  structure  at  a  cost 
of  $8,000.  The  Christian  Church  was  built  in  1871,  some 
of  the  bricks  of  the  first  brick  court  house  were  used  in  its 
construction.  They  have  no  resident  pastor,  but  maintain 
their  Sunday  School  and  young  peoples  organizations.  The 
Catholics  have  a  church  with  a  non  resident  priest  holding 
services  twice  a  month.  Their  building  was  erected  and 
dedicated  in  1896.     The  Congregationalists  had  an  organ- 


302  A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


ization  here  beginning  in  1893.  They  erected  a  building 
and  maintained  a  pastor  for  several  years,  but  the  building 
was  sold  and  razed  in  1920.  There  are  few  members  of 
the  Pentocostal  Church,  they  have  a  frame  building  which 
was  built  about  fifteen  years  ago.  The  colored  church  is 
a  frame  building  situated  in  the  southwest  part  of  the  town, 
near  the  residence  of  Sylverster  Oliver.  It  is  Baptist  in 
denomination  and  has  been  built  about  forty  years. 

The  original  seat  of  learning  for  the  town  was  built  of 
logs,  and  was  located  somewhere  near  where  the  First 
Baptist  Church  now  stands.  The  seats  were  logs  split 
with  the  flat  side  up  like  all  other  schoolrooms  seats  at 
that  time.  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Bratton,  daughter  of  D.  Y. 
Bridges,  who  was  born  here  in  1841,  said  she  went  to  school 
there  to  David  Bales,  also  to  Barnibus  Smith.  She  said 
there  were  forest  trees  where  the  home  of  Basil  Peterson 
is  now  located.  She  remembered  the  trees  so  well  because  A. 
J.  Gray,  who  was  then  a  small  boy  would  throw  the  little 
girls  sunbonnets  up  into  the  branches  to  tease  them. 

It  is  more  than  probable  this  was  the  house  built  in 
1825,  when  Vienna's  first  free  school  district  was  laid  off. 
The  second  school  building  was  frame  and  stood  just  a 
little  south  of  the  present  residence  of  P.  T.  Chapman  and 
on  the  same  lot.  It  was  built  about  1852.  The  only  names 
of  teachers  known  that  taught  in  this  building,  are  Dr.  J. 
B.  Ray,  Miss  Emma  Driver,  Colo  Toler,  Mrs.  Chase,  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Marshalk,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Joseph  Warder  and  T.  Chap- 
man. The  third  school  house  was  a  larger  building  made 
of  brick  located  where  the  present  city  school  now  stands, 
built  about  1866  or  1867.  It  was  two  stories  with  broad 
stairs  in  the  center  and  four  well  lighted  rooms  with 
modern  seats  and  desks.  It  served  many  years  for  the  city 
schools,  normal  courses  taught  during  the  vacation,  and 
the  Teacher's  Meetings.  This  was  replaced  by  the  present 
modern  building  in  1893,  at  a  cost  of  $16,000.  Dr.  Bratton, 
was  the  president  of  the  Board  at  the  time. 

The  Vienna  Township  High  School  building  was  begun 
in  1918.  Dr.  A.  E.  McKenzie  was  president  of  the  board. 
It  was  supposed  to  cost  $40,000  but  owing  to  the  high  cost 
of  labor  and  material  during  the  war  times  its  cost  was 
a  little  more  than  $70,000,  so  far  the  only  high  school  in  the 
county. 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY  303 

The  first  bank  in  Vienna  was  organized  in  1883  by  C. 
Cohn,  J.  N.  Poor  and  P.  T.  Chapman.  It  was  a  private  one 
and  was  known  as  the  Bank  of  Vienna.  Up  to  that  time 
Bain  &  Jackson  merchants  here,  had  done  whatever  busi- 
ness of  that  kind  that  was  done  in  the  town.  The  bank's 
first  place  of  business  was  the  east  side  of  the  Chapman 
Brick.  C.  Cohn  was  president  and  J.  N.  Poor  the  cashier. 
They  erected  a  banking  house  in  1887.  C.  Cohn  removed 
to  California  to  reside,  Mr.  Poor  died  in  1888,  and  D.  W. 
Whittenberg  succeeded  him  as  cashier.  This  bank  was 
nationalized  in  1890  with  a  capital  stock  of  $50,000.00  with 
P.  T.  Chapman  president;  J.  Throgmorton,  vice-president; 
D.  W.  Whittenberg,  cashier  and  J.  B.  Jackson  assistant 
cashier.  The  first  board  of  directors  of  this  bank  was  P. 
T.  Chapman,  C.  Cohn,  Josiah  Throgmorton,  D.  W.  Whitten- 
berg, T.  W.  Halliday,  S.  Whitehead,  and  W.  L.  Williams. 
They  built  the  present  modern  building  in  1914.  Mr.  Whit- 
tenberg completed  a  quarter  of  a  century  as  cashier  of  this 
institution,  retiring  in  1915.  D.  W.  Chapman  was  elected 
in  his  stead  and  with  the  exception  of  two  years  spent  in 
France  with  the  A.  E.  F.  and  in  hospitals  has  continued  in 
this  position  to  the  present  time.  The  Johnson  County 
Bank  was  moved  here  from  New  Burnside  in  1890.  It  was 
a  private  one  owned  by  J.  F.  Gray  and  A.  Harvick,  with 
C.  H.  Gray  as  Cashier.  Mr.  Harvick  retired  and  on  the 
death  of  J.  F.  Gray,  his  son,  continued  the  business  till 
1915,  when  he  retired  and  went  to  California.  They  built 
the  two  story  building  on  the  corner  of  East  Main  and 
South  Fourth  Streets  owned  by  H.  T.  Bridges  and  occupied 
by  the  Vienna  Times  and  Dr.  A.  E.  McKenzie.  The  Drovers 
State  Bank  was  organized  in  1899.  A.  K.  Vickers,  J.  B. 
Kuykendall,  J.  H.  Carter,  W.  T.  Dwyer,  F.  M.  Simpson,  L. 
A.  Knowles,  J.  K.  Elkins  and  O.  R.  Morgan  were  the  stock- 
holders, with  A  K.  Vickers  as  president  and  James  W. 
Gore  as  cashier;  F.  R.  Woelfle  succeeded  Mr.  Gore;  J.  B. 
Kuykendall  followed  Judge  Vickers  as  president,  T.  E. 
Boyt  succeeded  Mr.  Kuykendall.  On  the  death  of  Mr.  Boyt, 
Mr.  Woelfle  became  president  and  holds  that  position  at  the 
present  time,  with  G.  H.  Bridges  as  cashier. 

They  opened  business  in  their  present  quarters  on  the 
north  east  corner  of  the  square  and  Fourth  Street,  1899. 

The  first  mill  of  our  neighborhood  was  owned  by  W.  H. 
Price,  and  situated  somewhere  near  Vienna,  but  the  kind  of 


304  A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


mill  it  was  is  not  known.  He  paid  taxes  on  it  in  1820. 
William  Price  also  had  a  carding  machine  here,  which  made 
rolls  of  wool,  in  1847,  the  first  of  its  kind  in  this  section, 
and  since  all  cloth  was  made  by  hand,  it  was  quite  a  con- 
venience. The  first  flour  mill  of  interest  to  Vienna  and 
community  was  the  ''Star  Mill"  built  in  1856-7  by  Louis 
Hogg,  Aaron  Hatt,  Bob  Henard.  It  was  a  large  mill,  first 
class  for  its  time  and  located  on  the  west  side  of  town,  near 
the  present  residence  of  Mr.  Amanda  Curtis.  This  mill  has 
had  many  operators  and  owners,  among  them,  beside  the 
original  ones  were,  A.  J.  Kuykendall,  Josiah  Throgmorton, 
J.  B.  Kuykendall,  Burton  Sexton,  John  Wright,  Mr.  Taylor, 
Mr.  Helter,  Joshua  and  J.  K.  Elkins,  Alcaney  House,  B. 
Lunday,  Larkin  Simpson,  James  Brown,  J.  W.  Gore,  Mr. 
Lane,  Mason  &  Slack,  Valentine  Nesslerodt,  and  possibly 
others.  It  burned  as  usual  in  1891.  Walter  Scott  built  a 
carding  and  grist  mill  on  the  south  side  of  East  Vine  Street, 
somewhere  near  the  site  of  the  residence  of  0.  H.  Rhodes, 
on  east  Vine  Street,  1854.  It  was  later  enlarged  and 
equiped  at  great  expense  for  a  woolen  mill,  and  sold  to 
John  and  Samuel  Glasford.  It  was  tried  out  on  Saturday 
afternoon,  was  supplied  with  material  and  ready  to  begin 
making  cloth  on  Monday  morning;  it  was  destroyed  by  fire 
on  the  Sunday  night  before.  There  was  no  insurance  and 
a  total  loss  of  $40,000  was  sustained  which  was  a  large 
amount  for  that  period  (1861)  in  this  locality.  Berton 
Sexton  and  John  Wright  built  what  was  first  known  as  the 
City  Mill,  in  1867-8.  This  was  a  large  steam  mill,  equipped 
with  first  -class  machinery  for  making  flour  and  carding 
wool,  said  to  be  one  of  the  best  mills  of  its  kind  in  Southern 
Illinois.  The  firm  later  changed  to  Wright,  Throgmorton 
and  Kuykendall.  On  the  death  of  Mr.  Wright  and  the  re- 
tirement of  Mr.  Throgmorton,  Mr.  Kuykendall  continued 
to  run  this  mill  for  more  than  forty  years.  In  the  mean- 
time taking  his  son  Guy  as  a  partner.  This  mill  was  kept 
up  to  the  best  possible  grade  with  new  machiney  from  time 
to  time. 

Later  the  name  of  this  mill  was  changed  to  Vienna 
Roller  Mill,  it  also  perished  in  flames  in  1910. 

John  Dupont  of  Creal  Springs  erected  a  midget  or 
small  mill  on  the  site  of  the  Vienna  Roller  Mill,  in  1913, 
and  later  sold  it  to  Charles  Mathis,  who  continued  the  ex- 
change business  there  until  recently,  when  he  removed  to 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY  305 


White  County,  Illinois.  George  E.  Levings  &  Co.,  operated 
an  extensive  lumber  mill  near  the  Big  Four  Station,  beginn- 
ing in  1887,  selling  to  Josiah  Throgmorton  and  P.  T.  Chap- 
man in  1891.  Afterward  this  plant  was  sold  to  W.  E.  Beal, 
who  continued  the  business  as  long  as  there  was  timber  in 
paying  quantities  in  this  section.  Isaac  Hogg  operated  a 
saw  mill  just  across  the  bridge  on  the  highway  leading 
south  from  1919  untill  his  death  in  1923.  At  present 
Edward  Bellemy  operates  a  small  mill  for  grinding  meal 
and  poultry  feed  in  his  exchange  building,  the  only  mill  left 
of  all  our  fine  mills. 

A  creamery  was  built  here  in  1893  but  was  not  a  suc- 
cess, as  there  was  not  enough  dairy  cows  in  the  community 
at  that  time  to  support  it.  A  school  of  telegraphy  was 
operated  here  in  1899  by  Ivy  B.  Gray,  also  one  in  1902  by 
Mr.  Blizzard.  Years  ago  there  was  a  tan  yard  on  the  creek 
where  the  present  road  running  south  turns  out  of  East 
Main  Street.  The  first  owner  known  was  Joseph  McCorcle 
who  owned  it  in  1822.  The  old  vats  were  there  as  late  as 
1875.  John  R.  Roden  has  a  small  broom  factory  near  the 
station.  The  Vienna  Nursery  was  established  here  in  1869 
by  W.  E.  Galeener.  F.  B.  Thacker  was  connected  with  Mr. 
Gleener  from  1892  for  about  ten  years.  On  his  retirement 
from  the  firm  G.  E.  Galeener,  son  of  W.  E.  entered  the  busi- 
ness. It  is  both  wholesale  and  retail  and  their  territory  ex- 
tends over  most  of  the  southern  states  and  as  far  west  as 
Nebraska,  and  Oklahoma.  It  is  one  of  the  most  prominent 
enterprises  of  our  community  and  furnishes  employment 
to  many  families  of  the  town,  especially  during  the  summer 
and  fall  season.  These  are  all  the  industries  the  town 
affords,  except  almost  every  resident  has  a  garden,  chickens 
and  some  have  their  own  cow,  which  might  be  called  primi- 
tive industries. 

Our  laundry  is  sent  out  of  town  and  our  ice  has  been 
shipped  in  until  the  spring  of  1924.  It  is  now  manufac- 
tured by  the  Electric  Light  Plant  Company. 

The  streets  of  Vienna  have  always  been  a  source  of 
annoyance,  the  hills  are  so  steep  and  hard  to  keep  from 
washing.  The  soil  is  clay,  very  easy  to  wet,  but  rather 
quick  to  dry.  The  first  sidewalks  were  built  of  wood  and 
in  order  to  get  up  the  hills,  there  were  many  steps  and 
high  trestles,  a  level  piece  of  walk  and  then  some  more 
steps,  till  one  finally  reached  the  top  of  the  hill.     At  the 


306  A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


corner  of  Fourth  and  East  Vine  Streets  the  walk  was 
originally  as  high  as  a  one  story  house.  This  was  perhaps 
the  highest  place  but  steps,  steps  were  everywhere.  The 
crossings  were  mud  until  1890,  when  the  present  brick 
ones  were  put  in  by  P.  T.  Chapman  as  mayor.  They  are 
not  perfection  but  are  the  best  we  ever  had.  In  1894,  the 
city  bought  a  rock  crusher  and  began  to  rock  the  streets 
which  improved  them  wonderfully.  If  it  had  been  kept  up 
by  now  our  streets  would  have  been  in  fair  condition. 
There  is  no  use  for  a  town  as  full  of  rocks  as  Vienna,  not 
to  have  at  least  rocked  streets.  The  grades  had  been 
worked  down  from  year  to  year  until  1909,  under  W.  C. 
Simpson,  as  mayor,  concrete  sidewalks  were  begun,  and  at 
the  present  time  extend  along  all  the  streets  and  have 
added  more  to  the  appearance  and  convenience  of  the  town 
than  any  improvement  that  we  have  been  able  to  secure. 

The  famous  old  lamp  post  and  coal  oil  lamp  were  our 
portion  for  many  years.  In  1895  J.  F.  and  W.  J.  Wright  put 
in  an  electric  plant.  It  was  located  on  east  Vine  at  the 
corner  of  Third,  opposite  the  property  of  Miss  Emma  Reb- 
man.  It  was  a  much  needed  improvement.  It  was  sold  to 
J.  B.  Kuykendall,  later  to  Mrs.  M.  N.  McCartney,  who 
moved  the  plant  near  the  railroad  station.  On  the  Mc- 
Cartneys leaving  here  the  management  failed  to  keep  up 
the  standard  and  the  plant  was  finally  abandonded  at  quite 
a  loss  to  its  owner.  We  then  returned  to  oil  and  smoky 
lamps  till  1912,  when  under  the  regime  of  Noel  Whitehead 
as  mayor  an  acetylene  gas  plant  was  put  in  by  a  private 
corporation  and  a  contract  to  light  the  town  for  ten  years 
was  made  with  the  company.  The  lights  were  very  satis- 
factory, but  so  few  used  them  in  their  residences  it  made 
the  cost  rather  high.  During  the  war  carbide  went  to  such- 
exorbitant  figures  and  transportation  was  so  uncertain  that 
the  company  was  unable  to  secure  a  sufficient  quantity  to 
run  the  plant  and  two  years  before  time  expired  they  gave 
up  their  contract  with  the  city.  J.  E.  Myers  put  on  an  in- 
dustrial campaign  here  in  1919  and  tried  to  raise  enough 
funds  to  build  a  muncipal  light  plant  and  furnish  power  for 
a  garment  factory,  but  the  scheme  failed.  In  1920  bonds 
to  the  amount  of  $15,000  were  voted  to  put  in  an  electric 
light  plant.  In  the  fall  of  1922  an  arrangement  was  made 
between  the  city  and  Elam  and  S.  C.  Upton  to  build  a  power 
house  and  furnish  a  lighting  system,  which  is  very  satisfac- 
tory. 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY  30' 


Our  little  village  has  had  more  than  its  share  of  fires 
and  it  is  impossible  to  give  them  all.  In  1884  the  entire 
block  burned  on  the  south  side  of  East  Main  Street  be- 
tween Third  and  Fourth,  including  several  good  buildings 
but  no  brick,  this  was  about  the  first  big  fire  for  us.  The 
second  came  about  ten  years  later.  It  began  about  where 
the  First  National  Bank  building  stands  on  the  north  side 
of  the  square,  taking  everything  to  the  corner,  also  the  St. 
James  Hotel,  a  business  belonging  to  J.  B.  Chapman's  estate 
and  his  late  residence,  the  old  Samuel  J.  Chapman  dwelling 
which  was  one  of  our  first  hotels,  to  the  Burket  brick 
building.  These  latter  buildings  all  were  on  Fourth  Street 
and  the  east  side  of  the  square,  and  were  also  all  frame. 
All  were  replaced  by  brick,  which  was  really  an  advan- 
tage to  the  town.  The  most  disastrous  fire  so  far  in  our 
history  occured  in  1900  when  a  solid  row  of  brick  buildings 
on  the  west  side  of  the  square  extending  from  the  Fred 
Burnett  building,  which  occupied  the  present  site  of  the 
Ford  Garage  along  Fifth  Street  to  West  Vine,  were  laid 
low  by  flames,  including  a  fine  two  story  brick  office  build- 
ing, erected  by  Bratton  and  Ridenhower,  about  1890,  also 
the  opera  house  built  by  W.  E.  Beal  in  1896  which  was  one 
of  the  neatest  and  most  complete  buildings  of  its  kind  in 
Southern  Illinois  at  that  time.  Its  loss  has  been  realized 
more  keenly  than  any  other  building  of  the  town.  These 
two  buildings  were  never  replaced,  all  the  others  were  re- 
built in  1921.  Jackson  Brothers,  H.  M.  and  W.  G.,  bought 
the  lot  on  the  corner  of  Fifth  and  Vine  and  erected  an  up 
to  date  business  building  where  they  handle  hardware, 
furniture  and  groceries.  Many  other  buildings  have  been 
burned  and  rebuilt  at  different  times  in  our  history,  each 
means  quite  a  loss. 

The  present  building  on  the  corner  of  the  square  and 
East  Main  was  built  by  J.  H.  Carter  and  A.  Harvick,  about 
1887,  which  replaced  a  very  old  dilapitated  one  and  from 
its  looks  must  have  been  one  of  the  first  buildings  of  the 
town.  When  excavating  for  this  building  there  was  a  five 
franc  piece  found  about  three  feet  under  ground,  dated 
1811,  indicating  that  a  Frenchman  had  been  here  at  some 
time,  or  at  least  some  one  that  used  French  money.  Fred 
Burnett  erected  a  splendid  two  story  brick  building  in  1887. 

The  following  are  some  advertisements  referring  to 
Vienna  published  in  the  "Vienna  Artery"  June  7,  1871: 
"Town  Directory-  councilman-Samuel    Hess,    J.    S.    Crum, 


308  A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


J.  H.  Carter,  J.  Throgmorton,  magistrate.  M.  F.  Smith 
attorney;  O.  A.  Marker;  Treasurer,  S.  Jackson;  clerk 
J.  M.  Beggs  and  Marshall,  F.  M.  Carter.  I.  0.  0.  F.  J.  F. 
Benson  IN.  G.,  Joel  Johnson,  Sec.  The  Vienna  Union  Sab- 
bath School  J.  W.  Wright,  Superintendent;  Dora  ±>ain,  Sec. 
Vienna  Post  Office  Directory,  Vienna  to  Metropolis;  Tues- 
day and  Friday;  Vienna  to  Harisburg,  Wednesday  and 
Thursday;  Vienna  to  Dongola,  aaily  except  Sunday.  J.  JN. 
Hogg,  Post  Master.  J.  F.  McCartney  and  &i other,  lawyers, 
claim  agents  and  real  estate,  Metropolis,  Illinois;  R.  M. 
Fisher,  will  practice  in  ail  the  courts  of  Illinois,  oihce  over 
F.  M.  Jones'  Store;  J.  M.  C.  Damron,  M.  D.,  office  on  Main 
Street,  six  doors  below  the  public  square ;  Dr.  T.  R.  Burns, 
Physio-Medical  Physician,  office  at  residence,  Vienna,  Illi- 
nois. W.  A.  Looney,  M.  D.  Office  one  square  south  of  the 
church;  B.  F.  Bellemay  watchmaker,  Vienna,  Illinois,  E. 
J.  Ingersoll-Jewiery,  watches  and  clocks,  Caroondale,  Illi- 
nois, Wright  &  Co.,  News  books  and  job  printing;  advertise- 
ments from  the  same  paper,  October  1869,  Village  drug 
store,  by  0.  G.  Peterson,  at  Norris  and  Hardy's  old  stand; 
City  Drug  store,  R.  M.  Kincy,  with  Bratton  and  Elkins, 
Dry  goods,  J.  F.  Smith;  William  Green,  Barber  and  hair 
dresser;  Hatt  &  Hardy,  Contractors;  A  local  says  that  J. 
B.  Chapman  sold  $500.00  worth  of  goods  on  Saturday; 
Frank  Hall,  tin  shop;  J.  Burke,  family  grocery  and  hard- 
ware; J.  E.  Johnson,  painter;  Citizens  County  Ticket,  J.  M. 
Oliver,  County  Judge;  Associates,  W.  D.  Deans,  Joseph 
Warder,  assessor  and  treasurer,  Joel  Duboise.  Superinten- 
dent of  Schools,  Asahel  Burnett,  surveyor,  R.  A.  Martin. 

Perhaps  a  few  prices  would  be  interesting;  in  1878 
wheat  was  60c  and  70c  per  bushel ;  corn  25c  per  bushel ; 
potatoes,  20c  per  bushel;  chicken,  $1.50  per  dozen;  bacon, 
6c  per  pound;  1  pound  ham  9c;  buter  12V2  per  pound;  eggs. 
5c  per  dozen;  green  beef,  3c  and  4c  per  pound.  An  adver- 
tisement in  the  Johnson  County  Journal  1883,  "Take  your 
eggs  to  Chapman's  and  get  15c  a  dozen."  1888  "Wanted — 
A  girl  that  can  cook,  salary  $1.50  per  week. — Mrs.  J.  B. 
Kuykendall."  Hogs  5c  gross,  1888;  1889  "Challis  8VL>c  per 
yard,  bustles  15c  each  at  Chapman  Brothers,  1894  wheat 
45c,  eggs  10c,  sugar  25  pounds  for  $1.00,  coffee  10  pounds 
for  $1.00,  rice  20  pounds  for  $1.00;  in  1897  bacon  and  lard 
are  8c  per  pound;  in  1896  gingham  is  5c  per  yard;  1900 
kid  shoes  sold  for  $1.25;  in  1911  flour  is  $2.25  per  barrel. 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY  309 


Copied  from  Johnson  County  Journal,  April  1865 ;  We 
heard  Clint  Chapman  say  last  Saturday  that  fifty  years 
ago  he  was  a  resident  of  Vienna  and  amused  himself  assist- 
ing Uncle  Wests  Reynolds  in  breaking  calves  to  ride  in 
the  streets.  He  said  at  this  time  there  were  but  few  build- 
ings here,  that  the  court  house  was  a  small  log  house,  the 
public  square  was  full  of  stumps,  logs  and  gulleys,  and  the 
citizens  were  supplied  with  water  from  a  spring  that  bub- 
bled from  the  northwest  corner  of  it.  D.  C.  Chapman  at 
the  time  of  which  he  was  speaking,  was  about  seven  years 
old,  and  Wesley  Reynolds  was  a  small  boy.  The  only  spring- 
that  is  any  where  near  the  square  is  under  the  building- 
owned  by  Mrs.  Bertie  Boyt,  opposite  the  Perkins  House  and 
fronting  on  West  Vine  Street.  As  the  buildings  were  so 
few  and  the  main  resident  section  was  farther  south  on 
Vine  Street,  it  is  quite  probable  that  this  is  the  same  spring. 
It  is  not  open  now,  but  was  in  1860.  Mrs.  Fannie  Jackson 
was  married  that  year  began  keeping  house  in  the  second 
story  of  this  building.  Her  husband  had  a  store  on  the  first 
floor,  and  they  used  water  from  the  spring  in  the  back  room 
of  this  building,  which  is  made  of  stone. 

In  1850  the  population  of  Vienna  was  142,  but  it  had 
increased  to  1,217  by  1900.  It  has  been  decreasing  since. 
In  1910  it  was  1124,  1920  it  was  997.  Vienna  was  incorp- 
orated as  a  village,  February  27,  1837.  It  was  incorporated 
as  a  city  July  15,  1893.  In  1889,  our  city  had  no  stock  law, 
but  some  of  our  citizens  had  feather  beds,  and  many  of  our 
neighbors  had  hogs.  One  day  a  neighbor  lady  put  her 
feather  bed  out  on  the  back  yard  fence  to  sun  and  air, 
when  a  neighbor's  hog  came  along  and  tore  a  hole  in  it. 
The  old  saying  that,  "He  or  she  made  the  fur  fly,  was  liter- 
aly  true,  except  that  it  was  feathers  that  flew  instead  of 
fur."  Vienna  adopted  city  government  in  1893  and  the 
mayors  have  been,  J.  H.  Carter,  W.  C.  Simpson,  F.  R. 
Woelfle,  John  S.  Bridges,  Dr.  J.  M.  C.  Damron,  P.  T.  Chap- 
man,  W.  Y.  Smith,  W.  E.  Beal,  L.  H.  Frizzell,  W.  E.  Galee- 
ner,  Noel  Whitehead,  R.  J.  Hight.  Dr.  R.  A.  McCall,  N.  J. 
Mozley,  some  of  whom  have  served  more  than  one  term. 
Our  first  postmaster  was  Milton  Ladd,  then  S.  J.  Chapman, 
Jasper  Johnson,  J.  S.  Crum,  J.  N.  Hogg,  A.  Wright,  F.  M. 
Simpson,  A.  D.  Hight,  W.  A.  Spann,  J.  S.  Bridges,  T.  B. 
Powell,  W.  H.  Gilliam,  Charles  Clymore,  J.  P.  Mathis. 

A  Building  and  Loan  Association  was  organized  here 


310  A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNT* 


in  1888,  and  was  a  wonderful  help  in  building  up  the  town 
The  year  1890  was  said  to  be  the  most  prosperous  year 
Vienna  had  ever  known,  there  being  at  least  $40,000  put  in 
buildings  and  improvements  during  the  year.  Another 
Building  and  Loan  Association  was  organized  in  1921, 
which  it  is  hoped  will  be  as  conducive  to  improvement. 

The  following  copied  from  an  old  "Johnson  County 
Journal"  will  give  an  idea  of  some  of  the  families  living 
in  Vienna  at  that  time,  "the  following  students  made  a 
grade  of  80  or  more  in  the  intermediate  grades  of  the 
Vienna  Public  Schools  for  the  month  of  January,  1881 ; 
Suda  Bratton,  Flora  Damron,  Maggie  Cole,  Mary  Gregory, 
Thomas  Jones,  Thomas  (McDermot)  Wiedman,  Oliver 
Gregory,  Etha  Williams,  Nancy  Burns,  Dolly  Crum,  Ida 
Carter,  Harry  Jackson,  William  Williams,  John  B.  Jackson, 
Joseph  Isreal,  Edgar  Bellemy,  Ulysses  Crum,  John  Bain, 
George  Burns."    May  Copeland,  teacher. 

From  the  above  named  paper  1884,  "This  being  Leap 
Year  the  following  young  men  were  given  as  eligibles : 
James  Chapman,  Alex  Hess,  Will  Graves,  Will  Simpson, 
Jeff  Chisem,  W.  B.  Bain,  Frank  Damron,  Will  Dwyer, 
George  Gillespie,  Sam  Hess,  Will  Gilliam,  Dave  Harvick  and 
George  Latham." 

In  1894  Hon.  and  Mrs.  Sheldon  visited  the  family  of 
L.  H.  Frizzell,  Mrs.  Sheldon  was  a  sister  of  Mr.  Frizzell  and 
Mr.  Sheldon,  who  was  governor  of  South  Dakota  at  that 
time ;  he  was  formerly  a  school  mate  of  F.  M.  Simpson.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Simpson  gave  a  reception  and  banquet  in  their 
honor.  The  guests  as  given  in  a  current  issue  of  the 
"Vienna  Times"  were  Governor  and  Mrs.  Sheldon,  Mayor 
and  Mrs.  W.  C.  Simpson,  Dr.  and  Mrs.  N.  J.  Benson,  Rev. 
and  Mrs.  J.  H.  Ford,  Senator  and  Mrs.  P.  T.  Chapman,  Dr. 
and  Mrs.  J.  T.  Looney,  Messrs  and  Mesdames  L.  H.  Frizzell, 
W.  E.  Beal,  Samuel  Jackson,  J.  B.  Kuykendall,  George  B. 
Gillespie,  L.  O.  Whitnel,  H.  M.  Ridenhower,  W.  B.  Bain,  F. 
R.  Woelfle,  J.  C.  Chapman,  W.  H.  Gilliam,  Lucas  Parker, 
D.  W.  Whittenberg,  William  Moore,  A.  J.  Perkins,  W.  Y. 
Smith,  Fred  Burnett,  J.  F.  Wright,  James  M.  Slack,  J.  H. 
Carter,  J.  S.  Francis,  W.  T.  Dwyer,  J.  K.  Perkins;  Mes- 
dames A.  K.  Vickers,  Margaret  Elkins,  Sarah  Poor,  Delia 
Head,  R.  M.  McCall ;  Misses  Ella  Ford,  Louise  Rebman 
Margaret  Cole,  Francis  Lonney,  Eleanor  McGee.  Senator 
T.  H.  Sheridan,  Prof,  M.  N.  McCartney,  Judge  O.  A.  Har- 
ker,  Messrs  D.  L.  Chapman,  T.  B.  Powell,  C.  A.  Cunning- 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY  311 

ham,  John  B.  Jackson,  J.  E.  Cunningham,  Harry  M.  Jack- 
son and  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Whitehead,  Tunnel  Hill,  Illinois. 

The  Masonic  is  the  oldest  fraternal  order  in  the  town 
or  county,  having  been  organized  in  1854. 

The  preliminary  meeting  for  the  organization  of  a 
Masonic  Lodge  in  Vienna  was  held  December  1,  1853.  The 
first  officers  were  D.  M.  Jones,  W.  M.,  L.  W.  Hoggs,  Sr.,  W. 
\.  J.  Kuykendall,  Jr.  W.,  W.  M.  Hamilton,  Sr.,  Deacon,  R. 
Moore,  Jr.  Deacon,  A.  P.  Stewart,  Treas.,  J.  F.  Smith,  Sec, 
and  D.  S.  Kincey,  Tyler.  Members  and  visitors  during  the 
first  meetings  were:  S.  Copeland,  D.  Y.  Bridges,  William 
Price,  L.  B.  Venable;  Members  of  Caledonia  Lodge.  Dr. 
Whitnel,  Golconda  Lodge,  A.  J.  Hill,  Metropolis  Lodge, 
Calvin  Beard  and  S.  C.  Toler,  Jonesboro  Lodge,  H.  C.  Hac- 
ker, John  Travers,  J.  W.  Gibbs,  Inscore,  Cagle,  N.  0.  Gray, 
J.  D.  Edmondson.  The  following  were  elected  and  initiated : 
W.  H.  Culver,  W.  H.  Crider,  M.  Scroggins,  Gabriel  Utley, 
J.  R.  McCorcle,  Dr.  George  Bratton,  James  M.  Finney, 
Daniel  G.  Standard,  John  T.  Hogg,  John  N.  Cornealson, 
Ephriam  Davis,  F.  J.  Chapman,  Sr.,  W.  Y.  Davis,  Sr. ;  R. 
J.  Dark  and  W.  L.  Hamilton  admitted  by  demits,  also  R. 
W.  Carlton.  Visitors  from  other  lodges  during  the  year 
were  John  A.  Logan.  Shoehart,  Davidge,  T.  H.  Smith, 
Hewbank,  Standard,  Green  B.  Raum  and  W.  K.  Parrish. 
The  lodge  was  formally  instituted  and  officers  were  in- 
stalled October  31,  1854.  It  is  number  150.  They  insti- 
tuted and  held  their  first  meetings  in  the  second  story  of 
the  residence  of  Frank  Smith  on  West  Vine  Street,  now 
owned  and  occupied  by  Mrs.  Daisy  Harris.  Their  second 
home  was  over  the  Union  Church,  and  they  now  meet  in 
the  Powell  building,  where  most  all  the  fraternal  orders 
meet.  Vesta  Lodge,  I.O.O.F.,  340  was  organized  December 
1867,  I.  N.  Pearce,  Edward  Farris,  John  F.  Benson,  James 
T.  Williford,  Henry  T.  Bridges,  were  the  charter  members. 
Egyptian  Chapter  order  of  the  Eastern  Star  was  instittute 
in  Vinna  1875.  The  charter  members  were  Rev  and  Mrs. 
David  Ragains,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  J.  B.  Kuykendal,  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Samuel  Jackson,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  F.  M.  Simpson,  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Josiah  Throgmorton,  Dr.  and  Mrs.  W.  A.  Looney.  These 
names  were  not  taken  from  a  record  as  there  is  none  to  be 
found.  But  three  of  these  members  are  still  living  and  they 
gave  these  names.  Reverend  David  Ragains  represented 
the  chapter  at  the  first  session  of  the  Grand  Chapter  and 


312  A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


J.  B.  Kuykendall  was  the  representative  in  1876.  This 
chapter  was  dormant  for  some  time  but  was  reinstated  in 
1897.  It  is  number  30  showing  it  to  be  one  of  the  oldest 
in  the  state. 

The  Rebekahs  have  been  a  working  lodge  since  1887, 
the  charter  members  were  Dr.  and  Mrs.  George  Bratton, 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  J.  H.  Carter,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  J.  H.  Simmons, 
Alice  Beal,  Emma  Brockman,  H.  B.  Wiley,  J.  S.  Bridges, 
W.  C.  Allen,  F.  A.  Boyt,  H.  M.  Ridenhower,  Tenny  E. 
Wallace,  Hattie  Davis.  The  Knights  of  Phythias  flourished 
here  for  several  years  under  the  name  of  Romeo  Lodge,  but 
has  ceased  to  function.  A  modern  Woodman  Lodge  once 
interested  a  number  of  our  citizens,  but  it  has  also  ceased 
to  be. 

GRAND  ARMY  OF  THE  REPUBLIC 

Vienna  Grand  Army  Post  No.  221,  was  chartered 
April  10,  1883  with  John  T.  Mozley.  Post  Commander,  H. 
B.  Wiley,  Sr.  Vice,  John  McGee,  Jr.  Vice,  John  S.  Crum, 
Quartermaster,  Thomas  J.  Utley,  Chaplain,  F.  A.  Boyt, 
Officer  of  the  day,  A.  J.  Henry,  Officer  of  the  Guard ;  other 
charter  members  were;  W.  C.  Allen,  J.  H.  Arnett,  Frank 
Clement,  J.  S.  Hester,  F.  M.  Jones,  Berry  Johnson,  I.  M. 
Morgan,  William  M.  McDaniels,  T.  J.  McCormick,  William 
Perkins,  J.  E.  Rose,  A.  B.  Payne,  T.  B.  Stewart,  John  Stone, 
0.  H.  C.  Stout,  J.  A  Simpson.  B.  S.  Turner,  W.  H.  Thomas; 
James  Watson.  This  Post  has  had  on  its  roster  two  hun- 
dred and  thirty-seven  names  but  its  membership  has  de- 
clined until  there  are  (1924)  the  following  members: 
George  H.  Huffman,  James  Hester,  F.  B.  Thacker,  William 
Bouie,  and  M.  A.  Hankins.  Other  veterans  of  the  county 
who  have  been  members  are  J.  B.  Kuykendall,  John  L. 
Hogg,  Amos  Carter,  William  Turley,  Mark  Whiteaker. 
AMERICAN  LEGION 

Harry  Sullins  Post  536,  American  Legion  located  at 
Vienna,  Illinois.  It  was  chartered  January  3,  1920,  with 
L.  E.  Burnett,  Temporary  Chairman  and  Clifford  Veach, 
Temporary  Secretary.  The  charter  members  were:  L.  E. 
Burnett,  Ernest  Barnwell,  W.  N.  Carter,  W.  T.  Corbett, 
Ward  and  Ralph  Chapman,  Clarence  Deputy,  S.  F.  Hester, 
M.  T.  Hester,  Guy  W.  Hogg,  E.  A.  Hilburn,  F.  M.  Huffman, 
Alvin  L.  Mathis,  J.  F.  Martin,  Arthur  Perkins,  H.  F. 
Rhodes,  Wiley  Simmons,  B.  N.  Sharp,  Clifford  Veach,  W. 
0.  Verhines,  H.  A.  Whiteside,  J.  G.  Whiteside.  The  first 
officers  were :  F.  M.  Huffman,  Commander,  W.  A.  Verhines, 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY  313 


Vice-Commander,  J.  G.  Whiteside,  Adjutant,  W.  T.  Corbett, 
Historian,  Clifford  Veach,  Finance  Officer,  D.  W.  Chap- 
man, Insurance  Officer,  Neal  Carter,  Sergeant  at  Arms,  H. 
A.  Whiteside,  Athletic  Officer,  Lloyd  Ford,  Chaplain.  The 
Legion  has  forty-eight  members  with  Oliver  Fisher,  Com- 
mander, 1924.  They  meet  in  a  hall  in  the  second  story  in 
the  Carter  brick.  There  is  also  an  auxilary  of  this  post  of 
whom  Mrs.  Lucas  Parker  is  the  president  and  Mrs.  F.  M. 
Huffman  is  the  secretary.  This  post  was  named  in  honor 
of  Harry  Sullens,  who  was  the  first  Johnson  County  soldier 
killed  in  battle  in  France. 

There  has  been  Commercial  Clubs  from  time  to  time 
for  business  interests  and  at  one  time  a  Community  Club 
for  the  beterment  of  the  town  flourished  here,  but  they 
were  all  short  lived.  The  Vienna  Womans  Club  has  lived 
since  1897.  It  seems  to  have  caught  the  spirit  of  "eternal 
vigilence."  It  was  organized  in  1897.  The  preliminary 
meeting  was  held  at  the  home  of  Mrs.  P.  T.  Chapman  and 
the  organization  was  completed  at  Mrs.  N.  J.  Benson's. 
Mrs.  W.  A.  Spann  was  the  first  president  and  Miss  Bertie 
Boyt  was  the  Secretary,  other  charter  members  were  as 
well  as  can  be  determined  Mesdames  G.  W.  Ballance,  N.  J. 
Benson,  L.  C.  Oliver,  W.  E.  Beal,  P.  T.  Chapman,  G.  B. 
Gillespie,  J.  T.  Looney,  D.  W.  Whittenberg,  J.  N.  Poor,  M. 
N.  McCartney,  L.  O.  Whitnel,  U.  C.  Simpson,  Misses  Arista 
Frizzell,  Ida  Spann  and  Myrtle  Swain. 

The  club  has  been  instrumental  in  bringing  some  very 
fine  lecture  courses  to  the  town,  also  doing  civic  and  charity 
work  when  and  wherever  it  is  needed.  A  lasting  moument 
to  their  efforts  is  the  concrete  walk  to  the  cemetry,  built  in 
\914,  with  Mrs.  Lucas  Parker  as  president  of  the  club.  The 
row  of  trees  along  the  walk  is  also  due  to  the  club's  interest, 
and  the  kindness  of  Galeener  &  Son  nurseymen.  This  club 
has  put  forth  both  energy  and  money  to  secure  a  wagon 
yard  for  the  farmers,  which  was  finally  accomplished  in 
1920.  The  city  bought  the  lot  and  the  Woman's  Club  fur- 
nished it.  It  has  interested  itself  in  many  smaller  things 
beneficial  to  the  public.  They  suspended  club  work  during 
the  World  War,  and  every  woman,  who  was  a  loyal  club 
worker  was  always  found  at  her  post  in  war  work. 

An  Egyptian  Club,  A  Rook  Club,  and  many  other  clubs 
have  been  a  part  of  our  social  activities.  In  1890  we  had  a 
Chautauqua  Circle  whose  members  were  Reverend  J.  G. 
Dee,  John  Bain,  John  B.  Jackson,  Mesdames  Kate  and  P.  T. 


314  A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


Chapman,  and  A.  K.  Vickers.  Mrs.  Anna  Dwyer  and  Ella 
McGee,  some  of  whom  finished  this  course.  The  Christian, 
Baptist  and  Methodist  churches  have  ladies  socities  wnich 
meet  once  a  week  and  aid  the  church  by  their  work.  Vienna 
has  had  some  splendid  musical  bands.  Vienna  Cornet  and 
Bengert's  Brass  band,  were  very  fine  bands  of  an  earlier 
time,  and  the  last  brass  band  was  known  as  Shelter's, 
which  made  music  for  us  a  few  years  ago.  Much  to  our 
regret  we  have  no  city  band  at  present.  The  Vienna  Town- 
ship High  School  has  a  very  good  orchestra.  The  Mendle- 
sohn  Musical  Club  was  functioning  here  in  1896.  Miss 
Alice  Cook,  now  Mrs.  A.  E.  McKenzie  of  Cincinnati  con- 
servatory was  the  inspiration.  Miss  Ella  McGee  followed 
Miss  Cook  as  teacher  of  music  and  continued  the  club. 
Under  the  direction  of  this  club  many  good  musicals  were 
enjoyed  by  the  public. 

Mr.  C.  H.  Gray  owned  the  first  graphophone  in  the 
town  in  1897,  and  the  Gray  Brothers,  George,  John  and 
Mid  established  the  first  picture  show  here  in  1913. 

The  Daniel  Chapman  Chapter  D.  A.  R.  of  Vienna  was 
organized  in  November,  1909,  with  Mrs.  P.  T.  Chapman, 
Regent,  Mrs.  Orrie  Thacker,  Vice-Regent,  Miss  Georgia 
Blanchfil,  (Mrs.  T.  E.  Gillespie),  Secretary  Mrs.  Eva  B. 
Kuykendall,  Treasurer,  Mrs.  Eva  M.  Huffman,  Registrar. 
Other  charter  members  were  Mesdames  Etta  M.  Spann, 
Amanda  T.  Whitnel,  Anna  C.  Williams,  D.  W.  Whittenberg, 
Marian  Chapman  Greely,  and  Misses  Althea  E.  Thacker  and 
Cynthia  E.  Trammel. 

It  was  named  in  honor  of  Daniel  Chapman.  It  was 
thought  at  that  time  he  was  the  only  Revolutionary  soldier 
buried  in  Johnson  County,  however,  since  then  it  has  been 
discovered  that  there  are  several  others. 

The  object  of  this  society  is  to  mark  historic  spots, 
teach  and  keep  alive  the  spirit  of  patriotism  and  participate 
in  all  progressive  movements.  Any  woman  over  eighteen 
years  of  age  who  has  decendecl  by  blood  from  a  person  who 
aided  in  the  establishment  of  the  freedom  of  the  American 
Colonies  is  eligible  to  membership,  provided  she  can  prove 
her  descent. 

This  chapter  had  the  best  record  of  service  in  the 
World  War  of  any  chapter  in  the  state.  The  following 
relatives  of  members  saw  service  in  the  World  War:  Paul 
and  Clinton,  sons  of  Estella   (Chapman)   Whitehead;  Mid, 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY  315 


brother  of  Misses  Kate  and  Daisy  Gray,  Mrs.  F.  M.  Huff- 
man and  Anna  Hankins;  F.  M.  (Ned)  Huffman,  husband 
of  Nelle  (Gray)  Huffman;  Josiah  and  George,  sons  of  Mrs. 
Amanda  Whitnel ;  Webb  Trammel,  brother  of  Mrs.  Whitnel 
and  Cynthia  Trammel;  Paul  C.  Raborg,  husband  of  Marion 
Chapman  (Raborg)  Greely;  Arthur  C.  son  of  Mrs.  May 
(Copeland)  Jackson,  Dr.  T.  E.  McCall,  husband  and  Neal 
Carter,  brother  of  Mrs.  May  (Carter)  McCall,  Wayne,  son 
of  Mrs.  D.  WT.  Whitenberg;  Eugene  and  Samuel  Copeland, 
grandsons  of  Mrs.  Margaret  (Copeland)  Hill;  Robert,  son 
of  Mrs.  Edith  Johnson;  Robert,  brother  of  Mrs.  Eva  (Ben- 
son) Kuykendall;  Ward  and  Ralph,  sons  of  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
P.  T.  Chapman  and  brothers  of  Mrs  Marian  C.  Greely; 
Mrs.  Grace  (Hess)  Dodge  a  member  of  this  chapter  saw 
active  service  in  France.  She  died  from  tuberculosis  con- 
tracted in  this  service,  1924. 

The  members  of  this  chapter  took  government  bonds 
amounting  to  $25,000  during  the  different  Liberty  Loan 
drives  as  well  as  subscribing  liberally  to  the  different  War 
activities.  It  worked  with  the  Red  Cross  in  making  War- 
supplies.  A  service  was  held  in  memory  of  the  soldiers 
who  lost  their  lives  in  the  World  War,  in  their  honor  in 
November,  1919  and  ten  trees  were  planted  in  the  Library 
yard.  Harold  Looney,  who  had  served  in  France,  made  the 
address,  the  schools,  boy  scouts  and  citizens  assisted  the 
Chapter  in  this  ceremony. 

A  flag  (6x9)  was  presented  to  the  Vienna  Township 
High  School  in  1922,  by  the  Daniel  Chapman  Chapter,  for 
use  on  the  school  building.  Most  of  the  work  done  by  this 
Chapter  has  been  referred  to  in  connection  with  other  sub- 
jects. 

There  is  a  membership  of  twenty-nine  with  nine  resi- 
dent members. 

Plans  for  marking  the  site  of  the  first  court  house  in 
Johnson  County  which  was  at  Elvira,  are  complete.  The 
marker  will  consist  of  a  bronze  tablet,  properly  inscribed, 
set  in  native  stone. 

In  1910,  the  City  purchased  three  and  one  half 
acres  of  ground  which  were  added  to  the  Fraternal  Ceme- 
tereies  (Odd  Fellows  and  Masons)  and  placed  under  one 
management.  This  arrangement  has  proved  highly  satis- 
factory as  the  cemetery  is  exceptionally  well  cared  for  with 


316  A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


J.  B.  Turley  as  Superintendent.  The  location  is  ideal  and 
it  is  conceded  to  be  the  most  beautiful  cemetery  in  this 
section  of  the  state. 

BUSINESS  MEN  OF  VIENNA,  1924 

There  are  at  present  the  following  businesses  conducted 
in  Vienna:  Two  banks,  First  National  and  Drovers  State; 
three  dry  goods  stores,  Pearl  Taylor's,  C.  M.  Pickens  and  A. 
L.  Chester  (managed  by  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Utterbach)  ;  five 
groceries,  Jackson  Bros.,  who  also  deal  in  hardware,  R.  B. 
Coyne,  Walter  Smith,  0.  W.  Fisher  and  Earl  Veach;  a 
furniture,  embalming  and  undertaking  establishment  con- 
ducted by  Lucas  Parker;  our  two  druggists  are  L.  D.  Fern 
and  Dr.  J.  D.  Hart;  jewelers  are  Douglas  Harris,  Larry 
Newton,  also  an  optician  and  0.  E.  Harvick  who  operates 
a  wholesale  jewelry,  silver,  fine  glass  and  china  business; 
Paul  Taylor  Powell  runs  a  modern  confectionery  store,  also 
does  catering,  Ernest  Winchester  runs  another  up  to  date 
confectionery  on  the  east  side  of  the  square ;  there  are  three 
restaurants  conducted  by  C.  Verhines,  Lawrence  Hunsaker 
and  Ernest  Winchester;  four  cream  stations  operated  by 
Oscar  Burris,  Basil  Gray,  also  Express  Agent,  J.  0.  Beach 
and  Ed.  Lasley;  Ed.  Bellemy,  feed  and  grain  dealer;  Wm. 
L.  Caborn,  and  Lavador  Johnson,  poultry  and  the  latter  also 
handles  feed  and  grain;  two  blacksmith  shops,  one  run  by 
Isaac  Bellemy  and  the  other  by  Mr.  Phillips ;  a  meat  mar- 
ket conducted  by  Joseph  McDaniel  &  Son ;  Charles  Hacker 
&  Son  and  James  Bridges  are  barbers;  Earl  Hilburn  runs 
a  cleaning  and  pressing  establishment;  P.  S.  Sanders,  A. 
Cantwell  and  Frank  Hacker,  painters  and  paper  hangers; 
we  have  two  garages,  the  Ford,  owned  by  D.  W.  Chapman, 
managed  by  Jack  Hood  with  Carl  Bellemy  as  mechanic,  the 
Home  Motor  Co.,  owned  by  Carol  Cochran  and  Merideth 
Parker;  T.  C.  Taylor,  Automobile  Dealer;  a  lumber  yard 
operated  by  C.  F.  Hilliard;  a  publishing  and  printing  house 
owned  by  H.  T.  Briges,  F.  C.  Thomas  conducts  an  Abstract 
office;  A.  E.  McKenzie  dentist;  Jackson's  Photographic 
Studio;  Bridges  Real  Estate  Agency;  Elam  &  Upton,  Ice 
and  Coal;  Vienna  Nursery  owned  by  G.  E.  Galeener;  Post 
Office  with  J.  P.  Mathis  as  P.  M. ;  Ned  Huffman  and  Dave 
Rosenberg  Clothiers;  harness,  saddles  and  buggies,  Henry 
Mahl;  Sam  and  Edgar  Gillespie,  moving  and  hauling; 
Abram  Parker  and  Frank  Harcker  Shoe  repairing. 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY  317 

CONCLUSION 

Johnson  County  has  had  a  checkered  career.  It  was 
set  apart  with  a  large  area  more  than  a  century  ago  but 
began  to  lose  its  acieage  in  1816.  Other  counties  were 
organized  from  Johnson  County  territory  until  1843.  While 
there  is  oil  near  us,  factories  surrounding  us,  railroads 
crossing  us  it  seems  we  are  left  with  nothing  but  the 
rock  strewn  hills  and  virgin  soil  from  which  to  carve  our 
destiny.  The  revenue  of  this  county  from  December  1824 
to  1825  was  $365.13  and  the  expenditures  of  the  county  for 
the  same  time  were  $379.12.  Ihe  revenue  collected  for  the 
year  beginning  December  1922  was  $222,260.21,  showing 
the  increase  of  property.  The  population  in  1820  was  843 ; 
1830,  1,596;  1840,  3,626;  1850,  4,115;  1860,  9,324;  1870, 
11,186;  1880,  13,079;  1890,  15,013;  1900,  15,667;  1910, 
14,333;  1920,12,000,  a  net  increased  of  11,157,  in  one  hun- 
dred years.  Before  the  Civil  War  this  county  was  a  nest 
of  Democrats,  since  that  event  the  political  sentiment  of  the 
county  has  been  decidedly  Republican  and  that  is  the  dom- 
inant party  at  present.  The  first  woman  suffrage  meeting 
was  held  here  in  1892,  Mrs.  W.  P.  Brown  of  Belknap  cir- 
culated the  first  petition  favoring  suffrage  and  secured 
forty  names.  The  committee  calling  this  meeting  was  Mrs. 
M.  A.  Jackson,  the  M.  E.  minister's  wife  and  Mrs.  R.  M. 
Fisher.  In  less  than  thirty-five  years  women  have  secured 
almost  equal  suffrage.  One  hundred  years  ago  there  were 
no  avenues  whereby  women  could  earn  a  living  except  to  do 
house  work.  Now  women  follow  any  profession  or  business 
to  which  their  tastes  incline.  This  is  not  peculair  to  John- 
son County,  the  same  conditions  prevail  everywhere,  but 
being  in  "Egypt,"  one  might  think  that  this  county  had  not 
found  her  opportunities.  We  have  eight  banks,  six  automo- 
bile dealers,  we  need  more-physicians  as  we  have  only  eight 
in  the  county  in  1924.  True,  health  is  much  better  here 
than  formerly  but  good  physicians  are  a  necessity  in  any 
community.  As  has  been  stated  we  are  strictly  agricultural 
and  horticultural  but  business  is  as  stable  in  this  county,  if 
not  more  so  than  most  counties  of  the  state. 

This  county  has  automobiles,  one  hard  road,  eighteen 
miles  of  which  is  complete,  electric  lights  in  town  and 
country,  telephone  and  radio.  The  only  modern  device  we 
have  not  attained  is  the  flying  machine.  Number  of  farms 
in  county,  1742,  approximate  land  area  222,720  acres,  all 
farm  property  $10,216,738— (1920.) 


318  A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


We  have  no  millionaires,  but  a  great  many  of  the  kind 
of  people,  Abraham  Lincoln  said,  "God  must  have  loved." 
The  residents  of  Johnson  County  are  of  a  migratory  dis- 
position and  enjoy  travel,  and  it  is  a  fact  that  most  people 
who  leave  here  and  go  into  business,  especially  professions, 
in  other  localities  attain  places  of  prominence.  The  reasons 
ascribed  for  this  are  (first)  that  the  people  are  all  Amer- 
ican, descending  from  the  first  settlers  of  the  Colonies ;  an- 
other is  that  the  training  which  they  receive  here  is  so 
varied  it  enables  them  to  adapt  themselves  and  succeed  in 
whatever  undertaking  they  have  chosen. 

This  county  has  less  ioreign  population  than  any  other 
county  in  the  state. 

Our  courts  have  short  dockets  whereas  fifty  years  ago 
we  had  from  one  to  three  murder  cases  every  circuit  court, 
for  this  reason  we  have  lost  many  of  our  good  lawyers. 

The  description  given  by  Mr.  E.  D.  Rummel  in  the 
Community  Service  Dept.,  of  the  "Orange  Judd  Farmer," 
is  applicable  to  Johnson  County.  He  said,  "I  am  in  the  land 
of  hot  biscuits  and  fried  chickens,  but  must  add  the  big  red 
apple.  Anna,  Illinois  and  its  tributary  territory  are  a 
splendid  exemplification  of  what  Southern  Illinois  is  to  be 
in  the  future.  Apples,  peaches  and  other  fruit  as  good,  if 
not  better  than  any  grown  elsewhere  are  profitably  grown 
here  by  those  who  apply  business  like  methods.  Just  why 
some  of  our  Americans  are  chasing  over  the  world  hunting 
for  beauty  spots  when  they  have  all  at  home  that  they  will 
find  anywhere,  is  not  reasonably  understood.  It  is  apparent 
as  Northern  Illinois  men  come  into  "Egypt"  that  they  go 
away  with  a  new  vision  of  the  possibilities  of  this  unde- 
veloped part  of  the  state.  They  see  rice  and  cotton  grown 
successfully  side  by  side,  in  the  large  river  bottoms.  They 
see  corn  and  alfalfa  grown  which  cannot  be  surpassed. 
They  see  fine  orchards  and  cow  peas  on  the  uplands,  beau- 
tiful timber  and  coupled  with  it  all  they  find  rich  deposits  of 
minerals,  many  of  them  still  undiscovered,  which  will  add 
to  the  wealth  of  this  section." 

And  not  forgeting  the  riches  nature  has  lavished  upon 
us,  allow  us  to  quote  from  the  proposed  Park  Areas  of  Illi- 
nois, published  by  the  Friends  of  our  native  Landscape,  "In 
the  neighborhood  of  Parker  and  Tunnel  Hill  are  places  of 
rare  beauty  and  scenic  interest.  The  ride  on  the  Big  Four 
Railway  from  Parker  to  Vienna,  is  perhaps  the  most  pic- 
turesque railway  ride  in  Illinois." 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


320  A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


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MAP    OF    JOHNSON    COUNTY,    1924 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY  321 


FLORY'S  CAVE,  NEAR  TUNNEL  HILL 


DEVIL'S    STAIRWAY,    REBMAN    PARK,    FERN    CLYFFE 


"Should  noble  ancestry  induce  any  one  to  de- 
mand that  the  public  give  him  recognition,  or  to 
determine  that  he  will  give  the  public  something  to 
recognize." 


BIOGRAPAY 


ALLEN 

Honorable  W.  C.  Allen  is  a  native  of  this  county,  and  a  son  of 
John  and  Sarah  Mercer  Allen,  descending  from  the  West  family.  His 
paternal  grandfather  Nesbit  Allen  was  an  early  settler  of  this  sec- 
tion, floating  down  the  Ohio  River  and  landing  at  Trinity  in  its 
palmy  days,  and  before  Illinois  was  a  state.  He  was  also  one  of 
the  earliest  educators  of  this  county.  His  children  were  John  (2), 
who  married  Mary  Sarah  Mercer,  1835.  Their  children  were  William 
Copeland  and  Malissa.  The  latter  married  John  Martin,  and  they 
left  one  daughter,  a  Mrs.  Holzhouser.  Minerva  (2)  married  Thomas 
Mercer  (see-  West).  Malinda  (2)  married  William  and  Sarah  (2) 
married  Samuel  (both  see  Copeland).  Emma  (2)  married  John  Elkins. 
Another  daughter  married  a  Mr.  Eggleston.  W.  C.  was  born  1843 
and  was  raised  by  his  uncle,  his  parents  having  died  when  he  was 
quite  young.  He  enlisted  in  the  Federal  Army  when  a  mere  youth 
and  served  till  the  close  of  the  Civil  War,  His  experience  during 
these  years  taught  him  a  great  many  things  and  among  them,  that 
an  education  was  necessary  and  he  immediately  began  the  task  of 
acquiring  one.  He  was  a  teacher  of  the  county  several  years,  was 
elected  sheriff  in  1878,  and  a  representative  of  the  51st  district  to 
the  State  Legislature  in  1884.  He  went  to  Washington,  D.  C.  about 
1894  as  an  employee  of  the  house  of  Representatives  and  still  resides 
there.  He  is  a  strong  republican,  a  mason  and  a  member  of  the  M. 
E.  Church.  He  married  Francis,  (see  Calhoun).  Mrs.  Allen  died  in 
1920. 

AXLEY 

Robin  Axley  came  here,  tradition  says,  about  1810,  floating  down 
the  Ohio  River  on  a  boat  with  other  immigrants.  He  was  living  here 
in  1814  as  he  was  appointed  by  the  court  to  lay  out  a  road  from 
Elvira  to  Willcox'  warehouse  on  the  Ohio.  He  lived  in  the  West 
Eden  neighborhood,  and  was  said  to  be  a  man  without  an  enemy,  and 
noted  for  his  charity.     (See  West) 

Pleasant  Axley  lived  here  in  1814  and  entered  land  in  1818,  which 
is  now  owned  by  Neal  and  Simms.  He  was  another  citizen  of  the  West 
Eden  neighborhood  that  bore  an  enviable  reputation  for  good  deeds. 
The  citizens  of  this  community  were  men  whose  influence  and  char- 
acteristics have  gone  down  in  history.  Although  there  are  few  of 
their  descendants  living  in  the  locality  at  the  present  the  names  of 
these  pioneers  as  upright  men,  are  familiar  to  all  the  county,  and 
their  children  have  carried  their  teachings  to  many  localities  in  many 
states. 


324  A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


BAIN 

Two  of  the  Bains  came  to  this  county  very  early  in  its  settle- 
ment. They  were  of  Irish  decent,  living  in  Noith  Carolina  and  tradi- 
tion says  they  were  born  there.  They  emigrated  to  Kentucky  and 
lafer  to  Illinois.  James,  who  came  first  was  born  May  4.  1782  and 
married  Elizabeth  Pankey  who  was  born  Sept.  28,  1792.  They  were 
married  Sept.  10,  1807.  The  children  were  Patterson,  born  July  21, 
1808,  W.  B.  born  Mar.  19,  1810,  Malinda,  born  Dec.  27,  1811;  John, 
born  Oct.  13,  1813;  Margaret,  born  Sept.  3,  1815;  James  J.,  born  Mar. 
10,  1817,  Robert,  born  Jan.  5,  1819;  Bluett,  born  Dec.  28,  1821;  Isaac, 
oorn  Nov.  22,  1825;  Mary  born  Nov.  1,  1827;  Elizabeth,  born  Jan. 
21,  1830;  Martha,  born  Aug.  21,  1833.  This  was  copied  from  their 
family  Bible  now  in  the  possession  of  Stewart  Sutliff,  grandson  of 
James  Bain.  This  is  the  history  of  the  family  as  far  as  it  could  be 
traced.  Isaac  (2)  married  Elizabeth  Mathis.  The  children  wer^ 
James  Robert  (3),  George  (3),  John  (3),  Bluette  (2)  served  in  the 
Mexican  and  Civil  Wars.  He  married  Malinda  Hall.  The  children 
were  Olive  (3),  Rome  (3),  Alice  (3),  Sidney  (3),  Charles  (3),  Louzenia 
(3).  Rome  (3)  married  Kiziah  Bramlett.  Margaret  (2)  married  Mr. 
Thacker.  Their  children  were  Elizabeth  (3),  who  married  Porter 
Bellemy  and  lives  in  Pulaski  County.  Elizabeth  (2)  married  Hiram 
Sutliff.  Their  children  were  James  Hiram  (3),  John  Stewart  (3). 
James  H.  (3)  married  Mary  A.  Turner;  Fanny  (4),  married  Pleasant 
Howell.  John  Stewart  (3)  married  Zurilda  Reed.  The  children,  Hiram 
(4),  William  (4),  Bessie  (4),  Arthur  (4).  Hiram  (4)  married  Bertha 
Arnett.  The  children  were  Pauline  (5),  Haline  (5),  Eugene  (5), 
Violine  (5).  William  (4)  married  Georgia  Evers.  The  children  were 
Elizabeth  (5),  Nadine  (5),  William  (5),  Bessie  (4)  married  Roscoe 
Ferguson.  The  children  were  Thomas  M.  (5),  William  S.  (5),  Helen 
<5),  Cretia  (5),  Bernice  (5).    This  family  resides  at  Moline,  Illinois. 

James  Bain  is  given  as  a  "settler,"  under  that  chapter.  His  name 
is  frequently  found  on  the  records  as  one  of  the  men  prominent  in 
the  county  and  holding  responsible  positions  during  its  development 
and  must  have  been  a  man  of  some  education  and  ability. 

John  Bain,  Sr.,  brother  to  James  came  a  little  later,  1820,  from 
Hopkinsville,  Ky.,  and  settled  on  what  is  now  known  as  the  Wiley 
Marberry  farm  in  Bloomfield  township.  He  operated  a  horse  mill 
for  grinding  corn.  A  grandson,  F.  B.  Thacker,  says  he  heard  him 
say  one  time  when  boasting  that  he  could  grind  thirty  bushels  of 
•corn  in  a  day.  John  Bain,  married  Martha  Brooks,  they  had  Margaret 
(2),  born  1805,  Chas.  Addison  (2),  Mary  A.  (2),  born  1812,  Sarah  (2), 
oorn  1814,  John  Jr.  (2)  born  1818,  Francis  (2),  born  1819,  Elizabeth 
(2),  Mark  (2),  Margaret  (2)  married  John  (see  McFatridge).  C.  A. 
(2)  married  Martha  Emmerson,  they  had  Henry  (3),  who  died  in  the 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY  325 


Civil  War;  Susana  (3),  John  (3),  Abner  (3),  Mary  (3),  Charles  A, 
(3),  Marauda  (3),  Leeman  (3).  Susanna  (3)  married  Henry  (see 
McFatridge;  John  (3)  married  Lucy  Hamilton,  removed  to  Arkansas; 
Abner  (3)  married  Martha  Slater;  removed  to  the  State  of  Washing- 
ton many  years  ago.  He  reared  a  family  in  Spokane,  that  state, 
Mary  (3)  married  James  Rose,  had  Edward  (4),  Anna  (4)  and  Effie 
(4),  they  died  after  reaching  adult  age  leaving  no  issue.  No  know- 
ledge of  Leeman  (3);  Charles  A.  (3)  settled  near  Samoth,  later  re- 
moved to  Lincoln,  Ark.,  he  married  Mary  Reynolds,  they  had  William 
(4),  Thomas  S.  (4),  Clara  (4)  and  Fannie  (4).  William  (4)  moved 
to  Muskogee,  Okla.  Thomas  S.  (4)  married  Mamie  Morford,  removed 
to  Ottumwa,  Iowa.  Maranda  (3)  married  Frank  English.  John 
Bain  (2)  has  been  mentioned  in  business  and  politics  but  it  would 
be  unfair  not  to  emphasize  his  modest  quiet  manner,  and  his  habit 
of  most  always  being  on  the  right  side  of  every  question  and  firm 
in  his  convictions.  Men  of  this  character  may  not  make  a  stir  in  the 
world  but  their  influence  is  far  reaching.  Mr.  Bain  was  a  Republican 
for  many  years  but  in  his  last  days  was  a  Prohibitionists.  He  began 
the  mercantile  business  near  what  is  known  as  Pond,  east  of  Vienna 
on  the  Simpson  road,  moving  his  store  to  Vienna  in  1846.  He  ac- 
cumulated quite  a  little  fortune  for  his  time  and  community.  He  was 
a  strong  supporter  and  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Church.  He  built 
the  brick  residence  known  as  the  Bain  home  on  South  Fifth  St., 
Vienna,  in  1861.  His  first  place  of  business  was  a  log  house  about 
where  the  residence  of  W.  E.  Beal  now  stands,  but  the  location  where 
he  did  business  the  longest  is  now  the  vacant  lot  on  the  corner  of 
West  Main  and  Fifth  St.,  on  the  square.  He  married  Winnie  garrell, 
1841,  she  was  born  1824,  of  pioneer  stock,  Elias  Harrell,  her  father 
coming  here  in  1820,  also  from  North  Carolina.  Mrs.  Bain  lived  an 
exemplary  Christian  life,  her  home  was  the  home  of  the  itinerant 
M.  E.  minister.  She  entertained  Peter  Cartwright  on  one  of  his 
visits  to  this  section  of  the  state.  She  was  thoughtful  and  very 
charitable.  She  was  outspoken  in  her  opinions  for  right  living,  and 
believed  that  every  one  should  earn  an  honest  one.  She  died  at 
the  ripe  old  age  of  85.  Mr.  Bain  died  1886.  Their  children  were 
Frances  (3),  Preston  (3),  Sidney  (3),  Medora  (3),  William  B.  (3), 
John  C.  (3).  Frances  (3)  married  Samuel  Jackson,  who  was  a  native 
of  Tennessee,  born  1830,  and  left  an  orphan  at  the  age  of  one  year. 
He  was  brought  to  Illinois  by  his  grandparents  in  1831,  coming  in  a 
lour  horse  wagon.  They  first  lived  in  Sangamon  County,  later  in 
Union  and  Pulaski.  At  the  age  of  12  he  was  bound  to  Dr.  Gerry  of 
Vienna  with  whom  he  lived  until  he  was  17.  He  then  began  business 
for  himself,  contracting  to  ride  the  mail  from  Vienna  to  Shawnee- 
townee,  a  distance  of  sixty  miles  and  almost  impassable  roads  during 


326  A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


some  seasons  of  the  year.  This  was  quite  an  undertaking  for  a 
seventeen  year  old  boy.  He  put  in  a  crop  for  a  Mrs.  Vanderbilt  of 
Pulaski  County,  one  year  and  received  $30.00  for  it,  part  cash.  He 
went  to  Mississippi  and  worked  at  anything  he  could  find  to  do, 
sometimes  receiving  25c  per  day,  when  on  the  farm  he  would  start 
to  mill  at  three  o'clock  in  the  morning  and  be  obliged  to  wait  most 
all  day  for  his  grinding,  parching  corn  for  his  dinner.  On  the  spread- 
ing of  cholera  in  the  south,  he  decided  to  return  to  Vienna,  Johnson 
County.  He  worked  as  a  salesman  in  Vienna,  Jonesboro  and  Anna 
was  also  a  traveling  salesman  for  a  firm  in  St.  Louis.  In  1859  he 
returned  to  Vienna  with  a  capital  of  $2,000  and  went  into  business 
for  himself  in  the  building  opposite  the  Perkins  Hatel,  on  the  west, 
where  Caborn's  poultry  house  is  now  located.  He  formed  a  partner- 
ship with  John  Bain  in  1861,  which  continued  till  Mr.  Bain's  death. 
He  was  a  successful  business  man,  a  progressive  and  influential  citi- 
zen and  always  ready  to  contribut  to  any  forward  movement  for  the 
betterment  of  the  community.  He  married  first  Martha  Gillespie  who 
died  soon  after,  leaving  one  son,  Samuel,  who  resides  in  Los  Angeles, 
Calif.  He  married  second  Francis  P.  Bain.  The  children  were 
Arthur  G.  (4),  Cora  (4),  Harry  (4),  Winnifred  (4),  John  B.  (4)  Walter 
(4),  William  G.  (4).  Arthur  G.  (4)  married  May  (see  Copeland)  and 
lives  in  Houston,  Texas.  Cora  (4)  married  W.  C.  (see  Simpson), 
Walter  (4)  married  Ethel  Gilbert,  lives  in  Pope  County.  Wm.  G.  (4) 
married  Edna  Balance,  they  have  William  (5),  Julia  (5).  Harry  and  W. 
G.  Jackson  are  prominent  business  men  of  Vienna,  having  conducted 
a  grocery  and  hardware  store  on  the  corner  of  Vine  and  5th  Sts.  for 
a  number  of  years.  John  B.  (4)  has  been  engaged  in  the  banking 
business  for  several  years  in  Jonesboro  and  Anna.  Winnifred  lives 
with  her  mother.  Preston  (3)  married  Helen  Burnett.  The  children 
were  Winnifred  (4),  Maragret  (4),  George  (4),  James  (4),  John  (4). 
Most  of  this  family  reside  at  Texas  City,  111.  Sidney  A.  (3)  married 
O.  A.  Harker.  The  children  were  George  (4)  and  attorney  of  Los 
Angeles,  Calif.  Bert  (4),  business  man  of  Puryer,  Tenn.  Winnifred 
(4)  married  Frances  Hewitt,  a  druggist  of  Carbondale,  111.,  The 
children  were  Frances  (5),  Winnifred  (5),  Mary  Ann  (5).  Medora  (3) 
married  Walter  Warder.  The  children  were  Walter  (4),  Winnifred 
(4). 

W.  B.  (3)  married  Charlotte  Pancost  of  Lincoln,  Neb.  The  chil- 
dren were  June  (4),  who  is  the  widow  of  Lee  Hazen  and  resides  in 
Chicago,  111.  Verner  (4)  enlisted  in  the  World  War  and  died  in  1919 
as  a  result  of  flu  contracted  during  service.  John  C.  (3)  lives  in 
the  old  home  in  Vienna.  Sarah  (2)  married  Joel  (see  Thacker) 
Francis  (2)  married  Wesley  (see  Reynolds).  Elizabeth  (2)  married 
Wiley  Fairless.    The  children  were  James  (3),  Wiley  (3)  of  this  coun- 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY  327 

ty.  Mary  (2)  married  Walton  (see  Gore),  Mark  (2)  married  Matildah. 
The  children  were  John  (3),  Mary  (3),  Charles  (3).  John  (3)  reared  a 
family  in  Union  County.  Mary  (3)  married  Mr#  Howell,  Charles  (3) 
and  one  other  son  moved  west. 

At  a  family  gathering  in  1898  at  F.  B.  Thacker's  there  were  four 
sisters  present,  members  of  the  Bain  family.  Mrs.  McFatridge,  93, 
Mrs.  Gore,  86,  Mrs.  Thacker,  84  and  Mrs.  Reynolds  80.  Their  parents 
came  to  this  county  in  1820. 

BALLANCE 

George  Ballance  began  his  business  career  as  a  teacher,  later 
taking  up  law,  and  has  been  a  local  attorney  of  this  county  many 
year.  He  is  a  descendant  of  Hall  and  Elvira  Whiteaker,  his  mother 
being  Ginsey  (2),  who  married  J.  H.  Ballence.  They  lived  near  New 
Burnside,  raising  their  family  there.  The  children  were  George  W. 
(3),  of  Vienna,  who  married  Julia  Burton.  The  chilren  were  Edna 
(4),  (see  Bain);  Irene  (4)  married  C.  L.  Baker,  resides  at  Decatur, 
111.  Helen  (4)  married  I.  C.  Maurer  of  Collinsville,  111.  and  has  one 
son.  Sarah  (3),  the  second  child  of  Ginsey,  married  W.  A.  Wood, 
The  child  was  Ballance  (4),  who  is  a  physician.  They  reside 
in  St.  Louis.  Thomas  (3)  is  a  first  class  farmer  near  New  Burnside, 
married  Winifred  Lauderdale  and  has  four  children.  Dr.  John  W. 
(3),  is  a  physician  of  Marion,  111.  R.  A.  (3)  is  also  a  physician,  re- 
siding in  Oklahoma.  Dr.  M.  W.  (3)  is  a  dentist  of  Marion,  111.  Earl 
(3)  ,the  youngest  is  a  business  man  of  Springfield,  111.  The  mother, 
Mrs.  Ballance  was  a  chater  member  of  the  Burnside  M.  E.  Church 
and  Stone  Fort  Eastern  Star  Chapter,  No.  31.     She  died  in  1909. 

BEAUMAN 
D.  F.  Beauman  was  born  in  Canada,  1827  of  French  parentage. 
He  came  to  Vermont  when  a  young  man  and  in  1853  he  came  west 
and  engaged  in  the  work  of  helping  to  build  the  Illinois  Central  Rail- 
road. He  was  stationed  at  Ullin  and  Anna,  111.  In  1861  he  married 
Carrie  daughter  of  John  Corgan,  of  Anna.  Mr.  Beauman  engaged  in 
the  mercantile  business  in  Lick  Creek,  a  settlement  near  Buncombe, 
for  some  time,  but  later  came  to  Johnson  County  and  settled  near 
Tunnel  Hill,  1873,  where  he  continued  his  mercantile  business,  and 
began  to  open  up  the  Maple  Grove  Stock  Farm,  where  he  later  moved 
and  devoted  his  entire  time  to  the  farm.  He  was  a  pioneer  in  this 
county  in  raising  fine  cattle,  his  herds  took  many  premiums  and 
were  of  the  Short  Horn  breed.  He  added  fruit  culture  to  his  farming 
industry,  exemplifing  what  could  be  done  on  the  Ozark  ridge  and 
laid  the  foundation  of  the  now  famous  Beauman  Orchard.  The  children 
were  Mrs.  Birdie  Dinwiddie  (2),  of  Stockton,  Calif.;  Louie  (2)  was  a 
civil  engineer  and  held  some  high  postions  in  railroad  circles  in  the 


328  A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


west.  He  married  Kitty  Woodruff.  The  children  were  Louie  (3), 
who  lost  his  life  while  in  training  in  the  Aviation  Corps  during  the 
World  War.  The  father  immediately  enlisted,  went  to  France  and 
served  until  the  signing  of  the  Armistice.  He  died  soon  after  the 
close  of  the  war.  Their  daughter,  Carrie  (3)  is  the  wife  of  Mr. 
LaFevra  of  Houston,  Tex.  Francis  (3),  the  youngest  resides  with  her 
mother  in  Berkeley,  Calif.  Frank  (2),  was  a  business  man  of  Paw- 
huskie,  Okla.,  died  1924.  He  married  Theresa  Maness.  The  children 
were  Avis  (3),  Harry  (2)  died  in  young  manhood.  John  (2)  died 
while  serving  in  the  Spanish  American  War  as  a  member  of  the 
Signal  Corps  and  is  buried  at  Arlington  Cemetery,  Virginia,  where 
his  nephew,  Louie,  is  also  buried.  Guy  (2)  is  one  of  our  foremost 
orchardist,  and  resides  on  the  farm.  He  married  Cora  Seitz,  and 
has  William  (3).  Maud  (2)  is  the  widow  of  D.  R.  A.  Hale  and  resides 
at  Centralia,  111.  Her  children  are  Joe  (3),  Caroline  (3)  and  Robert 
(3).  Madge  (2),  wife  of  Dr.  H.  O.  Williams  of  Centralia;  Carrie  (2) 
married  first  Robert  Porter,  who  died,  leaving  Robert  (3).  She 
married  second  J.  M#  Brown,  of  this  county.  Clara  (2)  married 
George  Trammell,  cashier  of  the  First  State  Bank,  of  Mound  City,  111. 

BELLEMY 

Benjamin  F.  Bellemy  was  a  resident  of  Vienna  before  the  Civil 
War  or  about  that  time.  He  served  as  School  Trustee  in  1864.  He 
came  here  from  Tennessee  and  raised  a  large  family  of  boys.  Dav^ 
the  oldest  served  in  the  Civil  War,  was  a  miller  here  for  many  years 
but  removed  to  Hillerman  on  the  Ohio.  He  married  Mary  Haneline 
and  Edward  Bellemy,  the  Feed  and  Grain  merchant  of  Vienna  is  their 
son.  Jesse  Porter  married  Elizabeth  Reed;  three  children.  Porter 
married  Elizabeth  Thacker  (see  James  Bain).  Isaac  married  Martha 
Lentz.  The  children  are  Mrs.  Rose  Grant,  Frank  and  Walter.  John 
married  Alice  Hogg,  their  daughter,  Mary,  married  James  Bridges,  of 
Vienna.  John  and  family  have  moved  out  of  the  county.  William 
married  Belle  Hand.  He  has  Mary  and  Arista.  Alfred  married  Sarah 
Stublefield  and  they  had  Carl  who  married  Norma  Ragains  and  has 
Mertice,  Robert,  Virgil  and  Beatrice.  Alfred  married  second  Fanny 
Stublefield.  Ann,  the  only  daughter  of  this  family,  married  Benjamin 
Holcombe  they  had  several  children,  one  of  whom,  Katy,  married 
Wallar  Wallace.  Uncle  Ben,  as  he  was  known  repaired  watches  and 
clocks  for  this  community  for  many  years.  He  was  a  mason  and  a 
faithful  member  of  the  Christian  church. 

BENSON 
James  Monroe  Benson  was  born  in  Sangamon  County,  111.,  1822. 
and  came  to  this   county  from  Gallatin.     His   characteristic   of  kind- 
ness and  his  loyality  to  the  church  is  mentioned  in  another  chapter. 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY  329 


He  married  Celinda,  daughter  of  William  Slack  and  settled  on  a 
farm  in  Tunnel  Hill  Township  where  they  lived  most  all  their  married 
lives  of  more  than  fifty  years. 

This  farm  is  now  owned  by  their  grandson,  J.  D.  Benson.  Their 
children  were  N.  J.  (2),  who  received  his  elementary  education  in 
the  county  schools  and  later  graduated  from  the  Louisville  Medical 
College.  He  practiced  his  profession  in  this  county  many  years;  he 
also  served  for  a  time  as  assistant  physician  at  the  Southern  Illinois 
Hospital  for  the  Insane  at  Anna.  He  now  resides  in  Vernon,  Indiana, 
where  he  has  a  large  field  of  work.  He  married  Mrs.  Emma  (Beal) 
Cole.  Margaret  (2)  married  John  Carson.  The  children  were  Maud 
(3),  who  married  Dr.  William  Whitenberg.  She  died  leaving  George 
(4),  who  resides  in  Stillwater,  Okla.  Cora  (3)  married  Frederick 
Nave  of  Franklin  County,  and  died  leaving  Helen  (4).  Alonza  G. 
(2)  is  a  scientific  farmer  and  fruit  grower  of  Tunnel  Hill  Township. 
He  married  first  Sidney  (see  Chapman) ;  second  Mary  Rendleman. 
The  children  are  Robert  (3),  Franklin  (3)  and  Charles  (3).  James 
N.  (2)  is  a  farmer  of  Bloomfield  Township  and  his  modern  residence 
situated  on  an  eminence  one  and  one  half  miles  north  of  Vienna  is 
surrounded  by  very  beautiful  views  characteristic  of  this  county, 
making  it  one  of  the  most  desirable  locations  in  the  community.  He 
married  Elizabeth  (see  Chapman).  Their  sons  served  in  the  World 
War;  E.  C.  in  the  Quartmaster's  Department  and  is  a  Lieutenant  in 
the  Reserve  Corps.     J.  D.  trained  for  Air  service  at  Champaign,  111. 

BOYT 
Buckey  Boyt  came  to  this  county  with  at  least  part  of  his  family. 
He  had  a  daughter  who  married  Smith  Webb  of  Tunnel  Hill  Town- 
ship. His  son,  Felix  was  born  in  Tennessee  1811  and  married  Eliza- 
beth Simmons.  The  children  were  Mary  (2),  who  married  Duke 
Smith.  He  operated  a  tan  yard  at  Vienna  for  some  time;  later  they 
emoved  to  Texas,  with  their  family  except  their  son,  Andrew  (3), 
who  married  Belle,  daughter  of  H.  T.  Bridges,  of  this  county.  The 
children  were  Clarence  (4)  and  Bessie  (4) ;  neither  of  whom  reside  in 
the  county.  Washington  (2)  married  Mahala  McGowan.  The  chil- 
dren were  William  (3),  who  lives  in  Missouri.  Washington  (2)  married 
second  Ann,  daughter  of  Dr.  A.  P.  Stewart.  Mr.  Boyt  was  circuit 
clerk  of  the  county  and  he  and  Mrs.  Boyt  were  both  teachers.  They 
removed  to  Missouri  years  ago;  Allen  (2)  married  Julia  Morgan.  The 
children  were  Julia  E.  (3),  who  married  Ed.  F.  Morton.  The  children 
were  James  (4),  who  is  a  resident  of  Decatur,  111.;  Mary  (4)  at  home. 
Ed.  Boyt  (3)  was  for  many  years  one  of  Vienna's  most  successful 
business  men.  He  married  Bertie  Bratton,  (see  Chapman).  He  died 
in   the   prime   of   life.     Allen    (2)    married   second   Anna    Dunn.     The 


330  A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 

children  were  Eva  (3),  who  married  Walter  Slack.  Their  children  are 
Tullis  (4),  Donald  (4),  Lowell  (4)  and  Christine  (4).  Allen  Boyt 
served  in  the  Civil  War  and  was  a  farmer  living  in  the  Morgan 
neighborhood  for  several  years.  He  moved  to  Vienna  and  engaged 
in  the  livery  business,  which  he  conducted  until  he  was  made  deputy 
sheriff.  He  was  shot  by  some  unknown  party  while  preforming  the 
duties  of  that  office.  Elizabeth  (2)  married  Beverly  Bradley.  The 
children  were  Amanda  (3),  who  married  Mr.  Smith  of  this  county; 
Mollie  (3)  married  Joseph  Walker  and  lived  in  Marion,  111.;  Carmelia 
(2)  married  John  S.  Crum.  Their  children  were  Dolly  (3),  Ulysses 
(3),  (see  Crum).  John  (2)  left  the  county  when  a  young  man, 
marrying  and  settling  in  the  west.  Nancy  Malvina  (2)  married  Calvin 
Corbit.  The  children  are  Daisy  (3),  who  married  Edward  Boston 
and  lives  in  Union  County.  John  M#  (3)  married  Ida  Gore,  resides 
at  Pekin,  111.  Sibyl  (3)  married  E.  A.  Williams  (see  Carter).  Emma 
(2)  married  Thomas  Hogg  and  their  children  are  Lelia  (3),  who 
married  Edward  Seawright  and  has  one  child.  Bessie  (3)  married 
Mr.  McConnell;  they  have  one  child.  These  families  live  in  Chicago, 
111.  Winifred  (3)  married  Guerin  Blackburn  and  resides  at  Marion 
111.  Felix  Boyt  came  to  this  county  some  time  before  the  Civil  War, 
about  1850,  settling  in  Tunnel  Hill  Township.  He  was  a  carpenter 
and  joiner  and  was  quite  a  useful  citizen  in  the  frontier  country.  He 
opened  the  farm  now  owned  by  Mrs.  Royster.  He  was  a  resident  of 
Vienna  for  thirty  years,  a  mason  and  one  of  the  charter  members  of 
the  Christain  Church  of  this  place.  His  wife,  Aunt  Betty,  as  she 
was  called  was  loved  by  all  who  knew  her  and  lived  some  years 
after  her  husbands  death.  They  outlived  all  their  children  and  spent 
their  last  days  in  the  home  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  E.  F.  Morton,  their  grand- 
children who  with  Ed.  Boyt,  a  grandson  made  their  declining  yeais 
very  pleasant. 

BRATTON 
Dr.  George  Bratton  was  one  of  the  most  prominent  and  success- 
ful physicians  who  ever  practised  in  this  county.  His  father,  James 
Bratton,  was  a  native  of  Adams  County,  Ohio.  Jacob  who  emigrated 
from  Pennslyvania  to  that  state,  was  the  father  of  James.  Dr. 
Bratton  was  born  in  Adams  County,  Ohio  and  received  his  primary 
education  at  Burlington  Academy  and  Hillsboro  College.  He  gradu- 
ated from  the  latter  institution  at  the  age  of  seventeen,  returning  to 
Burlington,  he  began  the  study  of  medicine  under  Dr.  Camillus  Hall. 
He  attended  lectures  at  the  Western  Reserve  Medical  College,  Cleve- 
land, and  later  entered  Starling  Medical  College  at  Columbus,  Ohio, 
graduating  at  the  age  of  twenty.  Under  the  laws  of  Ohio  he  could 
not  receive  a  medical  diploma  at  that  age.  He  then  entered  a 
medical  college  of  Philadelphia,  Pa.,  and  graduated  from  that  instil u- 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY  331 

tion  in  1853,  and  at  once  took  up  the  practice  of  medicine  in  Vienna. 
His  field  of  work  was  very  large  and  he  was  recognized  by  the  pro- 
fession as  one  of  the  leading  physicians  of  his  time.  He  remained 
in  active  practice  until  the  year  of  his  death,  1899.  No  one  needing 
medical  attention  ever  applied  to  Dr.  Bratton  in  vain,  no  night  was 
too  dark,  stormy  or  cold,  for  him  to  hurry  to  the  lowest  hovel  to 
relieve  suffering.  Dr.  Bratton  was  married  in  1858  to  Elizabeth  J. 
the  daughter  of  David  Y.  and  Lucretia  (Chapman)  Bridges,  belonging 
to  the  earliest  families  of  this  county.  Mrs.  Bratton  died  in  1919, 
leaving  two  daughters  (see  Chapman.) 

BRAZEL 
George  Brazel's  name  was  connected  with  the  early  courts  and 
business  interests  of  the  county.  He  was  given  as  an  attorney 
here  and  owned  land  in  the  county,  also  lot  No.  46  in  Vienna  in  1824. 
His  name  appears  on  the  list  of  school  patrons  of  the  first  free 
school  district,  1825.  There  was  a  mill  located  somewhere  in  the 
western  part  of  the  county  known  as  Brazel's  Mill,  but  if  any  of  his 
descendants  remain  in  this  locality,  it  is  not  known. 

BRIDGES 
The  founder  of  this  Bridges  family  was  William  of  England; 
his  son  was  Francis.  James  D.  was  the  son  of  Francis  and  Henry 
T.  was  the  son  of  James  D.  He  came  here  when  he  was  thirteen 
years  old.  He  followed  the  trade  of  blacksmith  and  wagon  maker, 
and  resided  in  and  near  Vienna  most  all  his  life.  He  was  a  quiet, 
but  exempliary  citizen,  and  served  as  justice  of  the  peace  many  years; 
was  a  charter  member  of  the  Odd  Fellows  Lodge,  a  mason,  a  republi- 
can and  a  Presbyterian,  while  this  church  was  an  active  organization 
here,  but  later  joined  the  Christian  Church.  He  married  Mary  Carter. 
1852,  who  lived  to  be  almost  ninety  years  old.  The  children  were 
Belle  (2),  who  married  Andrew  Smith  (see  Boyt) ;  Vesta  (2)  marrie<] 
Isaac  Hogg  and  had  James  (3),  who  resides  in  Metropolis;  James 
(2)  grew  up  in  this  county,  but  went  to  Oklahoma,  where  he  married 
and  his  family  still  reside;  William  (2),  the  youngest  also  went  to 
Oklahoma  where  he  married  and  died  a  young  man,  leaving  a  family. 
Harry  T.  (2)  is  a  young  man  and  has  made  a  place  for  himself  in 
the  business  world,  not  only  of  Vienna,  but  is  known  as  editor  and 
publisher  of  the  Vienna  Times.  He  worked  for  W.  H.  Gilliam  as  an 
assistant  on  this  paper  for  several  years,  and  at  the  death  of  Mr. 
Gilliam,  bought  the  paper.  He  is  issuing  a  first  class  country  news- 
paper, which  is  appreciated  by  his  readers.  He  has,  like  his  father, 
been  a  justice  of  the  peace  for  several  years.  He  is  a  public  spirited, 
wide  awake  citizen  and  lends  his  aid  to  all  forward  movements.  He 
is  especially  interested  in  education.     He  married  Cena  Brooks,  and 


332  A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


their  children  are  Mabel  (3),  Harry  T.  Jr.,  (3),  Royce  (3)  Francis  (3), 
Lucille   (3),  James   (3)   and  Marion   (3). 

From  the  best  information,  John  was  the  name  of  the  founder 
of  the  Bridges  family  in  this  county,  that  came  here  from  North 
Carolina  about  1810,  settling  on  the  west  side  of  the  county  (settle- 
ment referred  to  by  Peck).  He  followed  farming  and  also  kept  a 
general  store  and  became  quite  wealthy  for  that  time.  His  children 
were  Alfred  (2)  Col.  D.  Y.  (2),  John  (2),  Celia  (2),  Abbie  (2).  Alfred 
(2)  was  born  1799.  He  served  in  the  Seminole  War  in  Captain 
Andrew's  Company.  He  owned  property  in  Vienna  and  held  office 
here  in  the  early  times.  He  married  Elizabeth,  who  was  born  1805, 
and  their,  children  were  Edith  (3),  Mary  (3),  James  (3),  John  H.  (3), 
Green  (3)  and  Calvin  (3).  Edith  (3)  married  Franklin  Smith  who 
was  a  prominent  business  man  of  Vienna  for  many  years.  They  had 
no  children,  but  their  home  was  always  open  to  those  who  needed  one. 
Mary  (3)  married  John  Sanders  and  had  children  Samuel  (4),  Edith 
(4),  Mary  (4),  Ann  (4),  Sheridan  (4),  William  (4).  Edith  (4)  married 
ried  John  Perry  and  had  Mamie  (5),  Thomas  (5),  Herman  (5).    Mamie 

(5)  married  John  Sharp  of  this  county.  Herman  (5)  resides  in 
Philadelphia  and  Thomas  (5)  in  Paragould,  Ark.  Samuel  (4)  married 
Millie  Shoemaker.  The  children  were  Bertha  (5),  who  lives  in 
Peoria,  111.  and  William  (5),  who  married  Lena.  They  have  two 
children  and  live  in  Arvada,  Wyoming,  where  he  is  cashier  of  a  bank. 
Mary  (4)  married  Frank  Burnett,  1879.  The  children  were  Nellie  (5), 
who  married  George   Pickard,   their   children   are   Frank    (6),   Phillip 

(6)  and  Raymond  (6).  Edith  (5)  married  Dr.  G.  K.  Farris.  Mary 
(4)  married  second  John  E.  Hunsaker,  1885,  and  their  children  were 
Paul  (5)  and  Lawrence  (5),  married  Jessie  Barnett  and  has  Paul  (6). 
Ann  (4)  married  Thomas  Perry.  She  had  Clyde  (5),  who  married 
Ethel  Batts  and  resides  at  Senneth,  Mo.  Mona  (5)  married  Charles 
Bray  and  lives  in  Flint,  Mich.  Sadie  (5)  married  Coke  Browning 
and  resides  in  Senneth,  Mo.  Sheridan  (4)  married  Jennie  Neal.  The 
children  ar~>  Frank  (5),  Phillip  (5),  Raymond  (5).  William  (4)  mar- 
ried Ella  Williams.  Their  children  are  Edith  (5),  who  married  a  Mr. 
Hutchinson,  of  Senneth,  Mo.,  and  Loueva  (5).  James  J.  (3)  married 
Eliza  Gibbs;  their  children  were  Augustus  (4),  who  married  Izora 
Wise.  The  children  were  James  (5),  who  married  Mary  Bellemy 
and  has  James  (6).  Charles  (5)  who  married  Ella  Simmons;  their 
children  are  Francis  (6),  Agustus  (6),  Elizabeth  (6)  and  Charles  (6). 
John  H.  (3)  married  Pop  Elkins,  their  children  were  Alfred  (4), 
who  was  accidently  killed  and  Dallas  4,  who  married  Anna  Median. 
Green  (3)  married  Mahala  Hacker;  the  children  were  Edith  (4). 
Green  (3)  marreid  second  Martha  and  their  children  were  India  (4), 
who  married  a  Mr.  Campbell  and  moved  to  Cincinnati,  Ohio.     Calvin 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY  333 


(3)  married  Adeline  Bagget;  the  chlidren  were  Anna  4,  George  (4), 
Frank  (4),  Logan  (4),  Alfred  (4),  Ida  (4),  Edith  (4),  Calvin  (4)  and 
Young  (4).  Anna  (4)  married  Frank  Ramey  and  had  Zora  (5)  who 
married  George  Jones,  and  Nanny  (5)  who  married  a  Mr.  Mathis; 
Logan  (4)  married  Dora  (see  Harvick),  Alice  (4)  married  Frank 
Dunn  and  lives  in  Metropolis,  111.;  Ida  (4)  married  Frank  Simmons, 
they  moved  to  Missouri;  Edith  (4)  married  William  Birch  and  has 
children  Ethel  (4),  who  married  Charles  Burris  and  has  Gene- 
vieve (6),  Lois  May  (6);  Alice  (5)  is  married  and  resides  in  the 
west;   Ralph   (5),   Earl   (5),  Agnes    (5),  married  Guy  Worrell. 

Col.  D.  Y.  Bridges  (2)  was  a  prominent  business  man  of  Vienna 
from  1840  to  1857.  He  served  in  the  16th  and  17th  sessions  of  the 
State  Legislature,  and  was  a  merchant  here  and  dealt  in  tobacco, 
making  many  trips  to  New  Orleans  as  did  all  the  merchants  of  that 
time  to  market  their  produce.  He  removed  from  Vienna  to  what  is 
now  the  H.  Ragains  place,  having  had  a  modern  residence  built  on 
the  site  now  occupied  by  Mr,  Ragains  residence.  He  married  Lu- 
cretia  (see  Chapman);  Abbie  (2)  married  Thomas  (see  Gore);  John 
(2)  entered  land  in  this  county  in  1830,  the  east  l/2  of  S.  W.  1/^  of 
Section  29  township  12,  range  2  East.  His  children  were  David  Y. 
(3),  born  1878,  John  (3)  (Wint)  Lucretia  (3),  Abbie  (3),  Malinda  (3), 
Elizabeth  (3),  Lavina  (3)  and  Catherine  (3).  David  Y.  (3)  married 
Lucy  King  and  they  had  Laura  (4),  who  married  a  Mr.  Baggly  and 
lives  in  Texas,  Charles  (4)  who  married  Flora,  daughter  of  Petei 
Gore  and  had  Mana  (5),  Mona  (5),  Charles  (5).  Lucretia  (3)  married 
Frank  Henard,  their  children  were  Alice  (4),  Ellen  (4),  Carrie  (4), 
Lula  (4),  Abbie  (4),  George  (4)  died  soon  after  reaching  manhood; 
Everet  (4),  William  (4).  Alice  (4)  married  Dr.  C.  A.  C.  Parker,  they 
had  Marie  (5),  Eva  (5),  Charles  (5),  Edith  (5),  Zillah  (5).  Marie 
(5)  married  Harvey  Hinkle,  children  Loren  (6)  Leland  (6),  Harveretl 
(6);  Eva  (5)  married  Ollie  Holshouser;  children  Wanda  (6),  Hazel 
(6),  Paul  (6),  Herald  (6);  Charles  (5)  married  Ivy  Peeler,  children 
James  M.  (6),  Jack  (6);  Edith  (5)  married  Hammond  White  and  had 
Mary  Alice  (6) ;  married  second  Lewis  Tanner.  Zilla  (5)  married 
Russell  Lee  and  has  Karleen  (6).  Ellen  (4)  married  Etheldred  Jones 
(see  West).  William  (4)  married  Tempy  Sitters  lives  in  Union 
County.  Carrie  (4)  married  Frank  Betts  and  had  Amel  (5) ;  married 
second  Frank  Nobles.  Lula  (4)  married  Charles  Johnson.  Abbie  (4) 
married  A.  Mclntire.  Everett  (4)  married  Sarah  Smith.  Abbie  (3) 
married   James  W.   Gordon;    they  had   children   Berneta    (4),   Joseph 

(4)  Etta  (4)  Ann  (4),  Mary  (4),  Fanny  (4),  John  (4),  Ruth  (4). 
Berneta    (4)    married   William   Miles;    they   had    Raymond    (5),    Lovi 

(5)  Joseph  (5).  Etta  (4)  married  John  Adams,  children  Olin  (5), 
Herman  (5),  Mabel  (5),  Joseph  (5),  Lindel  (5),  Allison  (5),  Eva  (5). 


334         A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


Joseph  (4)  married  Siddie  Kerley.  They  have  Clarence  (5),  Homer  (5) 
Ernest  (5).  Ann  (4)  married  Wiley  Pender;  they  had  Rosa  (5), 
James  (5),  Joseph  (5).  Mary  (4)  married  Elsworth  Adams;  children 
Willis  (5),  Benjamin  (5),  Ray  (5),  John  (5),  Clarence  (5).  John  (l) 
married  Rosa  Barringer,  children  Sibyl  (5),  Malby  (5),  Dimple  (5), 
Myra  (5),  Georgia  (5),  Ralph  (5).  Fanny  (4)  married  William  Miles, 
they  had  Arlie  (5)  James  (5),  Frank  (5).  Ruth  (4)  married  Thomas 
Cochran,  they  have  Sylvia  (5)  and  Edgar  (5).  Joseph  Pender  (5) 
married  a  Miss  Simmons,  they  had  Sibyl  (6),  James  (6),  Joseph  (6), 
Anna  (6),  Baby  (6).  Mrs.  Abbie  Gordon,  her  daughter,  Ann,  grandson, 
Joseph  and  his  wife  died  within  ten  days  during  the  "flu"  epidemic 
of  1918,  leaving  the  five  small  children  of  Joseph  Pender  (5), 
(James  W.  Gordon  married  second  Mrs.  Mary  Penrod).  Malinda  (3) 
married  William  Ragsdale  and  had  Elizabeth  (4)  who  married  Thomas 
Isom;  Grant  (4)  married  Matilda  Stokes;  Samuel  (4)  "Bunk"  married 
Agusta  Keller;  Rose  (4)  married  Barney  Gore;  Belle  (4)  married 
Mr#  Bishop;  Elijah  (4)  married  Josie  Smith;  Lily  (4)  married  Walter 
Bishop;  Dave  (4)  married  first  Daisy  Murray,  second  Ethel  Davidson; 
Willis  (4)  married  Tillie  Hogue;  Elmer  (4)  married  Cora  Pearce  and 
third  Joyce  Ussery;  Oscar  (4).  John  (3)  married  first  Caroline  Gore 
and  had  John  D.  (4),  who  married  Mary  Fane,  they  had  Ernest  (5), 
Ellen  (5),  Pearl  (5)  Dovey  (5);  Ida  (4)  married  B.  M.  Adams,  of  Cache 
Township,  their  children  were  Barney  (5),  Almus  (5)  Homer  (5). 
John  (3)  married  second  Sarah  Ragains  and  they  had  David  C.  (4), 
Josephine  (4),  Laura  (4),  Narvisa  (4),  Suda  Belle  (4).  David  G. 
(4)  married  Airy  McGinnis  and  they  had  Edna  (5),  who  married 
Frank  Keisler;  Josephine  (4)  married  Warner  Ferguson  and  had 
Jewell  (5);  Laura  (4)  married  Melvin  Jones,  (see  West)  Narvisa 
(4)  married  William  Bradley  and  they  had  Gladys  (5)  who  died  in 
young  womanhood;  Suda  B.  (4)  married  Claude  Cooper.  Melvina 
(3)  married  Crawford  (Tuck)  Ragsdale;  Elizabeth  (3)  married  Robert 
Hennard;  Catherine  (3)  married  Garth  Pender.  Celia  (2)  married 
John  Oliver,  who  served  the  county  as  treasurer  in  the  twenties, 
and  as  judge  in  the  sixties.  He  took  an  active  part  in  public  affairs 
during  his  entire  life.  They  had  children,  William  (3),  Alfred  (3) 
James  (3),  David  (3),  John  (3),  Elizabeth  (3)  Dorcas  Jane  (3). 
William  (3)  married  Susan  Short  and  they  had  Benton  (4),  Mariah  (4), 
Nancy  (4),  John  (4)  James  (4).  Benton  (4)  married  Minerva  Pearce 
and  they  had  Anna  (5),  who  married  Charles  Mozley.  Alice  (5) 
married  Mark  Crowder.  Mariah  (4)  married  John  Eldridge  and 
removed  to  Texas.  Nancy  (4)  married  William  Arnett  and  had 
Charles  (5).  They  also  moved  to  Texas.  John  (4)  married  Sarah 
Harvel  and  their  children  were  Cora  (5)  who  married  Jeff  Rogers 
and  had   Estelle    (6).     Rosa    (5)    married   Andrew   Thomas   and   had 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY  335 

Ruby  (6),  Oliver  (6),  Frank  (6)  Glena  (6).  Lily  (5)  married  Edward 
Bellemy.  Lura  (5)  married  George  Dunn.  Margaret  (5)  not  married. 
James  (3)  was  one  of  our  foremost  farmers  living  west  of  Vienna  for 
many  years.  He  married  Avaline  (see  Smith),  Alfred  (3)  married 
Marian  Slack.  David  (3)  married  Tabitha  Hogg  and  their  children 
were  Richard  (4),  who  married  a  Miss  Moore  and  had  David  (5) 
Alonzo  (4)  married  Toby  Stubblefield.  Georgia  Ann  (4)  married  a 
Mr.  Edwards,  Samuel  (4);  Elizabeth  (3)  married  Louis  Wise; 
Dorcas  J.  (3)  married  Stanley  Toller,  children  Cordelia  (4)  and 
George  (4).    Both  died  without  issue. 

BROWN 

R.  W.  Brown  came  from  Tennessee  here  in  1853.  He  was  a 
farmer  and  a  well  known  citizen  in  this  county  for  many  years.  He 
married  Mary  Ann  Peterson,  and  their  children  were  Ellen,  who 
married  Green,  (see  Thacker) ;  George,  married  Kate  (see  McFat- 
ridge);  Owen,  married  first  a  Miss  Reed,  and  they  had  Charles;  he 
married  second  Ida  Stanley  and  their  children  are  Cecil,  who  married 
Elbert  True  of  Marion,  111.;  Neoma,  Morris  and  Audry;  A.  I.  married 
Geneva  (see  Whiteaker)#  Reuben  Brown  was  a  brother  to  R.  W. 
and  a  farmer  of  Elvira  Township.  He  married  Malinda  Thompson 
and  they  had  Alice  (2)  who  married  J.  J.  (see  Robertson) ;  Ursula 
(2)  married  Douglas  Rose  and  has  Claud  (3);  William  (2)  married 
Elizabeth  Jenkins.  These  three  families  reside  in  Buncombe.  Jeffer- 
son (3)  married  Kate,  widow  of  George  Brown  and  they  had  Guy 
(4),  Reuben  (4),  Walter  (4),  Ray  (4),  Clyde  (4),  Ruth  (4),  all  o: 
Massac  County.  Richard  (2)  died  in  California;  Ruth  (2)  married 
J.  R.  Edwards  and  lives  in  Colorado. 

James  Brown  came  to  this  county  about  1820  from  North  Caro- 
lina where  he  was  born  in  1788,  and  settled  in  what  is  now  Cache 
Township.  He  married  Elizabeth,  sister  to  Rix  Carter,  also  a  native 
of  North  Carolina.  The  children  were  Samuel  T.  (2),  Wilson  (2), 
Edward  S.  (2),  Allen  B.  (2),  Mary  (2),  Amanda  (2),  Ella  E.  (2). 
Samuel  T.  (2)  was  a  farmer,  born  1825,  within  a  mile  of  where  ho 
died,  having  lived  in  that  neighborhood  all  his  life.  He  married 
Amanda  Dubois,  and  they  began  life  together  in  a  log  cabin.  Samuel 
T.  was  a  successful  farmer,  a  justice  of  the  peace  for  thirty  years, 
and  a  member  of  the  M.  E.  Church  fifty-three.  Their  children  were 
Angeline  (3),  James  M.  (3),  Joy  (3),  married  Aliced  Whitacre,  Wilson 
B.  (3),  Mary  A.  (3),  Samuel  T.  Jr.,  (3),  John  M.  (3),  Alonz  V.  (3), 
Ella  E.  (3),  Amanda  (3).  Angeline  (3)  married  Dr.  P.  D.  (see  Mul- 
key) ;  James  M.  (3)  married  Viola,  and  Samuel  T.  (3)  married  J. 
see  Smith)  Samuel  (3)  who  resides  at  West  Vienna  and  John  M.  (3), 
who  resides  west  of  Vienna  about  two  miles  are  progressive  and  sue- 


336  A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


cessful  farmers;  John  M.  (3)  married  first  Ellen  Enos,  their  children 
are  Edith  (4),  who  married  Oel  (see  Simpson)  Blanch  (4)  married 
Orba  Davidson  and  their  son  is  John  Billy  (5);  John  M.  (3)  married 
second  Leila  Mackey,  and  their  children  are  Waldron  (4)  and  Vir- 
ginia (4);  John  M.  (3)  married  third  Mrs.  Carrie  (Beauman)  Porter; 
Mary  A#  (3)  married  Frank  (see  Carter),  married  second  James 
Enos;  Wilson  (2)  married  Cassandra  Gore;  Edward  S.  (2)  married 
a  Miss  Thomas  and  they  had  children  Mrs.  Juda  Missenhammer  (3); 
Owen  Bruner  (3),  Norman  (3),  Morgan  (3),  Leroy  (3)  and  Cassandra 
(3);  Allen  Bainbridge  (2)  married  Miss  Sidwell  and  had  Joseph  (3), 
the  artist,  and  Ann  (3).  Mary  (2)  married  Joel  Dubois,  children 
James  (3),  Betty  (3)  married  Dr.  Owen  (see  Peterson);  Cora  (3) 
married  a  Mr.  Bolan  moved  out  of  the  county;  Amanda  (2)  married 
D.  M.  Jones,  children  Bernice  (3)  married  Benj.  Holsnouser;  Charles 
(3)  married  a  Miss  Groner;  Ellen  F.  (2)  married  Frank  Wilhelm 
their  children  were  Curtis  (3),  Vida  (3),  Loren  (3). 

BURNETT 
The  ancestor  of  the  Burnetts  of  this  county  was  William,  a  native 
of  New  Jersey.  He  emmigrated  to  Ohio  in  1802,  being  one  of  the 
first  six  families  to  settle  in  Trumbull  County,  that  state.  His  wife's 
name  was  Mary  Walker.  John  the  next  in  line  was  two  years  old 
when  his  father  came  West,  where  he  was  reared  and  married  in 
1823,  Harriet  Merry,  a  native  of  Ohio,  being  the  first  white  child 
born  in  Hartford  Township,  Trumbull  County,  1801.  Their  children 
were  Julia  (2),  Charles  M.  (2),  Asahel  (2),  Martha  (2),  Frank  (2), 
Mary  (2),  Wm.  (2),  Wellington  (2).  Asahel  (2)  born  1829,  educated  in 
the  village  school  and  also  a  higher  school  of  Portage,  Ohio,  and  be- 
gan teaching  in  his  native  state  at  the  age  of  sixteen  years,  for  which 
he  received  eighteen  dollars  a  month  and  boarded  "around."  He  con- 
tinued this  work  for  a  few  years  but  decided  to  come  to  Illinois  in 
]853.  It  appears  that  he  was  the  first  of  his  family  to  come  here, 
and  settled  on  the  farm  where  he  died.  It  is  located  about  four 
miles  east  of  Vienna  in  Bloomfield  township.  He  farmed  in  the 
summer  and  taught  school  in  the  winter  for  twenty-six  years  and 
was  County  Examiner  under  J.  S#  Whittenberg.  He  married  Didamie 
Robertson,  1854.  One  child,  Marcus  L.  (3),  who  married  Sarah 
Connelly.  They  had  Asahel  Breeze  (4),  Chloe  (4),  Sadie  (4),  Earl 
(4).  Chloe  (4)  married  Wiley  Holt  and  has  Gladys  (5);  Sadie  (4) 
married  Walter  Sharp,  and  has  Sylvia  (5);  Earl  (4)  married  Blanco 
Rhodes.  Charles  M.  (2)  was  born  in  1827,  and  came  to  this  county 
in  1862.  He  was  a  business  man  of  Vienna  for  many  years  and  was 
noted  for  his  beautiful  horses  and  his  good  care  of  them.  He  married 
Margaret  Henry  in  Ohio  and  their  children  were  Frank  (3),  Fred  (3), 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY  337 

Helen  (3),  John  (3).  Frank  (3)  married  Mary  Sanders  (see  Bridges); 
Fred  (3)  was  born  in  Ohio,  1854,  and  was  a  successful  business  man  of 
Vienna  for  many  years.  He  married  Betty  Fields  and  their  children 
were  Cora  M.  (4)  who  married  D.  W.  (see  Chapman);  Fred  (4)  mar- 
ried Velma  Strickland  and  their  children  are  Fred  (5)  and  Margaret 
(5).  Helen  (3)  married  Preston  (see  Bain);  John  (3)  married  Alice 
Lambert  and  their  children  were  Charles  (4),  Frank  (4)  and  Ted  (4). 
Mary  (2)  married  Jesse  Davis,  a  contractor  and  builder  of  Vienna. 
Wellington  (2)  was  a  physician  of  Massac  County,  living  at  New 
Columbia,  111.,  in  the  seventies. 

CALHOUN 
Three  Calhoun  brothers,  Jacob,  Zachariah  and  George,  came  to 
this  county  from  Tennessee  about  1850.  Their  father,  George  came 
from  North  Carolina  to  Tennessee  in  an  early  day.  The  maiden  name 
of  his  wife  was  Patsy  Julian,  a  native  of  Georgia.  They  lived  on  a 
farm  in  Tennessee  most  all  their  lives,  the  mother  coming  to  this 
county  when  very  old.  They  reared  five  sons  and  one  daughter; 
Jacob  J.  (1),  born  about  1803,  married  Rebecca  McCall,  daughter  of 
Thomas,  whose  wife  was  a  Miss  Gilmore,  about  1825.  They  removed 
to  this  county  in  1852,  settling  on  land  near  Belknap.  Their  original 
home  is  now  enclosed  in  Charles  Marshall's  barn.  Their  children 
were  William  (2),  James  F.  (2),  Thomas  H.  (2),  Charles  D.  (2), 
George  J.  (2),  Mary  A.  (2),  Frances  (2),  Susan  (2),  Mary  (2),  Rebecca 
C.  (2),  Elizabeth  (2).  William  (2)  married  Mary  Rhodes,  they  had 
Samuel  (3),  Betty  (3),  Robert  (3),  Franklin  (3),  and  Susan  (3).  This 
family  removed  to  Arkansas.  James  F.  (2)  married  Mary  Helm.  The 
children  were  Charles  (3),  Jacob  J.  (3),  who  married  Belle  Henderson. 
Cynthia  (3),  married  David  L.  Stewart;  Susan  (3)  married  Isaac 
N.  Evans,  Thomas  J.  (3)  and  George  W.  (3).  James  F.  (2)  married 
second,  Francis  Reid  and  their  children  were  Allen  (3),  Manorah  (3), 
Martha  (3),  who  married  Polk  Ballard  and  Lizzie  (3).  Thomas  H. 
(2),  born  in  Williamson  County,  Tennessee,  1831,  married  Mary  Robin- 
son, their  children  were  Alice  (3)  who  married  Pink  Thornton  and 
lives  near  Goreville.  William  (3)  married  Julia  Jones.  Francis  (3) 
married  Charles  Grissom.  James  A.  (3)  married  Miss  Toler;  Jacob 
(3)  married  Miss  Terry;  Susan  E.  (3)  married  William  Furgus; 
Charles  R.  (3)  married  Delia  Osborne;  George  B.  (3)  married  Eva 
Campbell.  Charles  D.  (2)  married  Ditha  Johnson.  They  had  Albert 
(3),  who  married  Lizzie  Cox;  Sula  (3),  married  Thomas  Hurst; 
Amanda  (3)  married  Roy  Henderson;  Julia  (3),  Frank  (3)  married 
Miss  Jones;  Samuel  (3)  married  Spicy  Burns,  Josephine  (3)  and 
Rosa  (3).  George  J.  (2)  married  Martha  Dunn  and  their  children  are 
Priula    (3),    married    Mary    Henderson;     Edward    (3)    married    May 


338  A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


Johnson;  Zachery  T#  (3)  married  Francis  Mayard;  he  is  a  physician 
of  Pope  County;  Sarah  E.  (3)  married  J.  F.  Gillespie;  John  H.  (3) 
married  a  Miss  Harper;  Frank  (3),  Walter  (3),  Allen  (3),  no  know- 
ledge. Mary  A.  (2)  married  James  Robinson,  their  children  are  Hugh 
(3),  Phoebe  (3)  married  John  Spicer;  Sarah  (3)  married  Mark 
Whiteaker;  William  (3)  no  knowledge;  Charles  (3)  married  May 
Cover;  Francis  (2)  married  William  C.  Allen  and  had  Belle  (3),  who 
died  in  youth;  Susan  (2)  married  William  Moore  and  had  Douglas  (3) 
who  married  Lizzie  Johnson,  Joseph  (3),  and  Jeptha  (3);  Fannie  (3) 
married  John  Rathar;  Lizzie  (3)  married  James  Ore.  Martha  (2> 
married  William  Ring  and  they  had  William  (3)  married  Miss  Thorn- 
ton, George  (3)  married  Miss  Mulinax,  Jane  (3)  married  Millington 
(see  Smith),  Alice  (3),  Francis  (3).  Rebecca  Cumi  (2)  married  James 
Venable,  the  children  were  John  (3),  Orril  (3),  Lizzie  (3),  Thomas  (3), 
this  family  removed  to  Missouri.  Sarah  (2)  married  George  Lovelace 
and  their  children  were  Olis  B.  (3)  married  Sula  Betts  and  Georgia  A. 
(3).  Sarah  (2)  married  second  Isaac  Lovelace  and  had  Isaac  (3), 
who  married  Julia  Bratton.  Elizabeth  (2)  married  John  Murrie  (2) 
and  had  Johin  (3).  Zach.  (1),  another  brother  settled  in  the  southeast 
part  of  the  county,  1850  and  had  William  Hayes  (3),  Petaway  (3), 
John  (3),  Mary  (3),  Lucy  (3)  and  two  other  daughters  whose  names 
are  not  known.  Lucy  (3)  married  Dr.  Young  of  Metropolis.  Mary 
(3)  married  a  Mr  Cryder.  George  (1),  the  other  brother  settled  in 
Elvira  Township  and  had  Joseph  Julian  (2),  William  (2),  Martha  (2), 
Amanda  (2).  Joseph  J.  (2)  married  Mary  Parker,  they  had  Julian 
(3),  Heber  (3),  Loubeth  (3).  Julian  (3)  died  in  young  manhood; 
Heber  (3)  married  Doria  Beggs,  they  have  Gay  (5),  Edna  (5),  Joseph 
(5),  Fay  (5),  Ludine  (5),  Fondle  (5)  and  Robert  (5).  Loubeth  (3) 
married  Nathaniel  Boomer.  William  (2)  never  married;  Martha  (2) 
had  Ivy  who  married  Mr.  Nipper.  Amanda  (2)  married  Willis  Lingle 
and  resides  in  Union  County.  George  (1)  married  second  Mrs.  Ann 
(Ward)   Copeland. 

CARLTON 
John  W.  Carlton  is  a  son  of  W.  B.  who  came  to  this  county  in 
1840  from  Middle,  Tennessee  and  was  born  on  the  Pedee  River,  Nortn 
Carolina.  He  married  first  Miss  Hight  and  had  one  son,  Dr.  Lewis 
W.  Carlton.  After  her  death  he  married  Sarah  E.  Throgmorton  and 
had  Harvey  (2),  Henry  (2),  Joseph  (2),  Edward  (2)  Ambrose  (2), 
J.  W.  (2)  Addy  (2),  Edward  (2)  married  Neoma  (see  Farris)  and  is 
cashier  of  the  first  National  Bank  of  Coulterville,  111.  Ambrose  (2) 
married  Clara  Davis  who  died,  leaving  Gretel,  a  young  daughter, 
who  also  died  in  1924,  and  Billy  about  ten  years  old.  Addy  (2) 
married  Wirt  Lindsey  and  has  Joseph  (3);  J.  W.  (2)  married  Mattie 
(see  Veach).     He  followed  teaching  with  farming  until  1916  when  he 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY  339 

was  elected  circuit  clerk  arid  was  so  efficient  that  he  was  reelected 
in  1920  and  again  in  1924.  He  and  family  are  republicans  and 
estimable  citizens  of  the  county  seat. 

CASEY 
Levi  Casey  came  to  this  county  in  1808  and  settled  in  Bloom- 
field  Township,  near  a  spring,  which  has  been  known  for  many  years 
as  Casey's  Spring.  Himself,  his  wife  and  ten  children  came  by  ox 
cart  from  Tennessee.  He  was  said  to  be  a  native  of  Ireland  and 
was  a  brother  of  Zadoc  Casey,  who  was  at  one  time  Lieutenant  Gov- 
ernor of  Illinois  and  presided  in  the  Constitutional  Convention  ol 
1848.  Levi  (1)  married  Mary  Sherrell  in  East  Tennessee  about  1780. 
Tilth-  children  were  Polly  (2),  who  married  Squire  Choate,  they 
resided  in  Massac  County  many  years,  being  the  founders  of  the 
Choate  family  in  that  county.  J.  M.  Choate,  a  prominent  business 
man  of  Metropolis  who  has  recently  (1923)  disappeared  on  a  trip 
Irom  the  west,  and  of  whom  no  trace  can  be  found  is  a  descendanc 
of  theirs.  Rachel  (2)  married  Mr.  Elms;  Patsy  (2)  married  a  Mr. 
Clark;  Belvia  (2)  married  a  Mr.  Ritta;  Susanna  (2)  married  John 
Goddard;  another  daughter  married  a  Mr.  Goddard;  and  another 
daughter  married  a  Mr.  Fisher  and  still  another,  a  Mr.  Latham; 
Susanna  (2)  and  John  Goddard  lived  in  Williamson  County,  near 
old  Sulphur  Springs  and  reared  a  large  family,  namely  George  W. 
(3),  W.  G.  (3),  Randolph  (3)  and  John  (3),  who  lives  near  New 
Burnside,  Nancy   (3)   married  W.  J.   Cavitt  of  Tunnel  Hill;    Rebecca 

(3)  married  Dr.  Russell  Williams  and  resided  in  Hamilton  County; 
Rachel  (3)  married  Obe.  Rich.  There  were  two  sons  in  the  first 
Levi  Casey's  family,  Randolph  (2)  who  was  born  in  Tennessee,  1796, 
and  was  the  fifth  child,  the  other  brother,  twelve  years  when  he 
came  to  this  county,  died  at  the  age  of  eighteen.  Family  tradition 
says,  he  was  the  first  person  buried  at  Casey  Springs  Cemetery,  1816, 
which  is  one  of  the  oldest  buring  grounds  of  the  county.  Randolph 
(2)  married  Mary  Graves  in  Johnson  County,  1818.  Their  children 
were  Hiram  (3),  Rebecca  (3),  Sarah  (3),  Rachel  (3),  D.  M.  (3),  A. 
J.  (3),  Green  R.  (3).  Hiram  (3)  married  Derinda  Hightower.  The 
children   were   George    (4),   Levi   B.    (4),   Fred    (4),   Julia    (4),   Susan 

(4)  and  Rachel  (4).  Hiram  (3)  died  in  1865  while  serving  in  the 
120th  Illinois  Volunteer  Infantry.  Of  his  children,  George  (4)  died 
in  young  manhood;  Levi  B.  (4)  married  Angeline  Norma.  They  had 
four  sons,  Randolph  (5)  who  married  Louisa  Rushing;  Daniel  W.  (5) 
married  Rina  Webb;  Dr.  W.  N.  E.  (5)  is  now  a  resident  of  Tacoma, 
Wash.,  and  Dr.  Levi  B.  (5),  who  practiced  medicine  for  many  years 
in  Marion,  111.,  and  was  well  known  in  this  county.  Rebecca  (3) 
married  John  G.  Sparks,  moved  to  California  in  1850,  later  to  Oregon, 
where  he  served  as  Internal  Revenue  Collector  for  that  section  of  the 


340  A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


Northwest  under  President  Lincoln.  Sarah  (3)  married  John  W. 
Howerton,  (see  Howerton),  Rachel  (3)  married  Green  Lowery.  Levi 
B.  (4)  and  Angeline  also  had  daughters,  Mary  Ann  (5)  who  married 
Jackson  Hewitt  and  Nancy  (5)  who  married  William  R.  (see  Webb). 
Levi  B.  Casey  (4)  was  said  to  be  a  man  of  commanding  appearance, 
six  feet,  two  inches  tall  and  of  a  find  physique.  He  was  Captain  of 
Company  D.,  31st  Illinois  Infantry,  Logans  regiment,  and  was  killed 
at  Vicksburg,  June,  1863.  He  is  buried  at  the  Graves  Cemetery,  four 
miles  north  of  Vienna,  on  the  old  Marion  road.  Randolph  (2)  spent 
his  life  as  a  farmer.  He  never  went  to  school  a  day  in  his  life  and 
learned  to  read  after  he  was  forty  years  old.  He  became  a  great 
reader  and  was  well  informed  on  the  history  of  this  government  and 
acquired  a  good  geographical  knowledge  of  this  country  and  the 
world  at  large.  He  was  a  great  student  of  the  Bible,  a  republican 
and  after  1860  a  member  of  the  Christian  Church.  D.  M.  Casey  (3) 
son  of  Randalph,  resides  in  Tallequah,  Okla#,  and  they  have  four 
sons  and  one  daughter.  A.  J.  Casey  (3)  died  leaving  three  children. 
Green  R.  (3)  married  Lucinda  Perkins  in  1873.  Their  children  were 
W.  R.  (4)  who  resides  in  Oklahoma;  F.  M.  (4)  living  near  Creal 
Springs;  George  V.  (4)  of  Golconda,  111.;  T.  L.  (4)  also  of  Oklahoma 
and  Ward  (4)  who  resides  with  his  parents.  Mrs.  Alice  (Casey) 
Bell  (4)  lives  near  Tunnel  Hill,  Minnie  (Casey)  Hodge  (4)  resides 
at  Heartly,  Texas;  Ida  (Casey)  Yandell  (4)  resides  at  Carterville, 
111.  There  is  now  in  the  possession  of  Green  R.  Casey  (3),  a  burr 
that  was  used  in  a  hand  mill  and  brought  to  this  county  from  Ten- 
nessee by  Levi  Casey  in  1808,  also  his  spectacle  case.  Levi  Casey 
died  in  1842  and  was  buried  at  Metropolis.  Randolph  (2)  removed  to 
Williamson  County  about  four  years  after  his  marriage,  to  a  place 
called  Old  Sulphur  Springs  and  resided  there  until  1853,  when  he 
returned  to  this  county  and  entered  land  under  the  "bit"  act.  He 
first  resided  on  the  James  Whitehead  old  place,  now  known  as  the 
Centralia  Fruit  Farm.  He  moved  in  1857  to  the  farm  where  J.  B. 
Cavitt  now  resides,  living  there  until  his  death,  1874,  and  is  buried 
at  the  Goddard  Cemetery.  Randolph  Casey  (2)  married  Manerva 
Alexander,  and  had  one  child,  Mrs.  R.  G.  Simmons   (3). 

CARSON 
Hiram  Carson  was  a  first  resident  of  Tunnel  Hill  Township.  He 
served  as  sheriff  of  the  county  and  also  filled  other  stations  of  trust 
in  the  county  and  neighborhood.  His  widow,  Nancy,  now  past  ninety 
years  old,  and  Frank,  a  son,  reside  on  the  old  home  place.  Mrs. 
Carson  was  formally  married  to  a  Mr.  Jackson  and  had  a  son, 
Reuben,  who  married  Jane  Simmons,  and  they  had  Cordia  who 
married  Joseph  Murrie  and  Essie  who  married  Frank  Carter.     Only 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY  341 

three   of  Mrs.   Carson's   children  are   now   living,  beside  Frank,  they 

are   Samuel,   Jerome,   who   lives   at   Kankakee,   111.,   and    Casey,  who 

resides    in    California.      Pleansant    married    Lillie    Morris    and  died 
leaving  one  son  and  a  daughter. 

CARTER 
Amos  Carter  is  an  old  resident,  coming  here  from  Tennessee.  He 
served  in  the  Civil  War  and  is  a  loyal  member  of  the  Grand  Army 
Post.  He  still  operates  his  farm  although  eighty-six  years  old#  He 
is  well  preserved  mentally  and  physically,  and  always  appears  to  be 
on  the  sunny  side  of  life.  He  married  Sarah  Turley  and  has  Grant 
who  married  Eva  Carlton,  they  are  residents  of  Carbondale.  James 
who  married  Julia  Stewart  died  several  years  ago  leaving  a  family 
his  widow  later  married  Ezekiel  Ingersol  of  Carbondale;  Miss  Jennie 
is  an  employee  of  the  government  and  resides  in  Washington. 

Vincent  was  the  ancestor  of  the  large  Carter  family  residing  in 
this  county  and  many  who  have  emigrated  from  it.  He  was  born 
in  North  Carolina  in  1803  and  later  came  to  Tennessee  with  his 
parents,  where  he  followed  farming  till  1850,  when  with  his  wife  and 
children  he  settled  on  a  farm  in  Vienna  Township.  He  married 
Elizabeth  Rose  in  Tennessee,  and  their  children  were  John  (2), 
Frank  (2),  Mary  (2),  Lucy  B.  (2),  Sabra  W.  (2),  J.  H.  (2),  Eliga  (2), 
Tennesseee  E.  (2).  John  (2)  was  a  farmer  of  this  county  and  married 
Martha  Neatherly,  1854;  their  children  are  W.  H.  (3),  and  Mary 
E.  (3).  W.  H.  (3)  married  Josephine  Verhines.  The  children  were 
W.  H.  (4),  Frank  (4),  Martha  (4),  Arista  (4),  Dola  (4),  Guy  (4), 
Eva  (4).  W.  H.  (4)  married  Emma  Murrie.  The  children  were 
Merritt  (5),  Ivy  (5),  Ethel  (5).  W.  H.  (4)  married  second  Mrs. 
Norah  (Comer)  Rhodes.  The  children  were  Otto  (5),  Norine  (5), 
Frank  (4)  married  Essie  Jackson.  Martha  (4)  married  John  Dill,  a 
prominent  business  man  of  Carbondale  and  a  native  of  this  county. 
They  have  John  Jr.  (5).  Arista  (4)  married  Lyons  Randle.  Dola  (4) 
married  Rex  Cook.  Frank  M.  (2)  married  Charlotta  Bridges  and  had 
Alice  (3),  Elizabeth  (3),  Martha  (3),  Belle  (3).  Belle  (3)  married 
Robert  Verhines  and  had  Robert  (4),  Harvey  (4)  and  Lily  (4),  who 
married  William  Keltner,  he  died  leaving  Robert  (5) ;  she  married 
second  Mr.  Chitty.  Elizabeth  (3)  married  Maxwell  Caudle  and  had 
Ira  (4)  and  Ralph  (4).  Alice  (3)  married  R.  R.  Ridenhower  in  1882 
and  had  R.  R.  Jr.  (4),  who  married  Essie  Jackson  and  had  Kimber 
(5);  married  second  Pearl  Veach.  Martha  (3)  married  Samuel 
Jobe  and  had  Nettie  (5),  who  married  Mr.  Hopkins,  of  Little  Rock, 
Ark.  F.  M.  (2)  married  second  Matilda  (Fairless)  Clayton  and  had 
Suda,  (3),  who  married  Eugene  Ausbrooks  of  this  county;  he  married 


342  A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


third  Mrs.  Mary  Farris  and  had  Obie  (3).  Mary  (2)  married  H.  T. 
(see  Bridges).  Lucy  (2)  married  James  Card,  1878,  who  was  of 
Scotch  ancestry,  but  for  two  generations  his  family  had  lived  in 
Ireland,  where  James  was  born  in  1832.  He  was  a  blacksmith  by 
trade,  he  was  a  useful  and  esteemed  citizen  of  our  county  for  many 
years.  He  served  in  the  Civil  War  and  was  at  Antitem  1862.  He 
was  a  member  of  the  Baptist  Church  and  a  Republican.  They  had 
Lula  (3)  who  married  Isaac  Hook,  children  Robert  (4),  James  (4), 
Herbert  (4)  and  Katherine  (4).  Sabra  W.  (2)  married  A.  D.  Williams, 
a  farmer  of  Bloomfield  and  had  Etha  (3),  William  (3),  E.  A.  (3). 
Bertha  (3),  Elizabeth  (3),  G.  C.  (3).  Etha  (3)  married  John  R. 
Parker  and  their  children  were  Ada  (4),  who  married  John  Beggs 
and  lives  in  Marion.  The  children  were  Jaunita  (5),  Effie  (5),  John 
Jr.,  (5).  Abe  (4)  served  in  the  World  War,  where  his  hearing  was 
badly  injured.  He  learned  shoe  repairing  in  a  vocational  training 
school  and  now  operates  an  electric  shoe  shop  in  Vienna.  He  married 
Gertrude  Arnett  and  has  Loretta  (5)  and  Wilda  (5).  William  (3) 
married  Victoria  Crowder;  children,  Essie  (4)  married  Mr.  Jobe; 
Fay  (4)  married  Howard  Beals.  E.  A.  (Buck)  (3)  married  Sibyl 
Corbitt.  The  children  were  Calvin  (4),  Lucy  (4)  who  married  James 
Hutchinson  of  Goreville  and  Hattie  (4).  G.  C.  (Dink)  (3)  married 
Edna  Schagenlaugh  and  has  one  daughter.  Elizabeth  (3)  married 
W.  L.  Darter.  The  children  were  Arthur  (4),  Coba  (4).  She 
married  second  Joshua  Gray.  The  children  were  Ward  (4),  Nettie 
(4),  Gussie  (4).  James  H.  (2)  was  born  in  Giles  County,  Tenn.,  1844. 
He  came  with  his  parents  to  this  county  and  was  left  an  orphan  at 
an  early  age,  he  was  reared  by  his  brother-in-law.  H.  T.  Bridges, 
from  whom  he  learned  the  blacksmith  trade.  He  enlisted  in  the  6th 
111.  Cav.,  at  the  age  of  17,  was  wounded  and  discharged,  he  reen- 
listed  in  the  120  Co.  K.  He  was  the  third  person  to  enlist  from  this 
county  and  served  during  the  remainder  of  the  Civil  War  and  was 
promoted  to  a  Lieutenancy.  He  was  elected  sheriff  of  this  county, 
1872  and  to  the  State  Legislature  in  1878.  On  retiring  from  office 
he  entered  the  mercantile  business  which  he  followed  till  his  death. 
He  was  a  very  successful  business  man  and  took  a  great  interest 
in  the  community  and  its  betterment.  He  married  first  Eliza  Card- 
well  and  had  James  H.  Jr.  (3)  who  is  in  business  in  Cairo,  111.  He 
married  Myrtle  Hankins.  They  have  Wallace  (4),  Phillip  (4),  June 
(4),  James  (4),  John  (4)  and  Elizabeth  Rose  (4).  James  H.  (2) 
married  second  Amanda  Belle  (see  Harvick)  1875.  Tennessee  E.  (2) 
married  Hugh  Wallace,  who  was  a  blacksmith  of  our  town,  they  re- 
sided here  many  years.  They  had  one  daughter,  Maggie,  who  married 
J.  F.  Francis.  They  live  in  Springfield,  111.  Eliza  (2)  died  when  a 
young  woman. 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY  343 


CAVITT 

W.  J.  Cavitt  is  an  old  resident  of  Tunnel  Hill  Township.  He 
came  to  this  section  in  1854  from  Tennessee,  settling  first  in  William- 
son County  but  later  coming  to  this.  He  married  Nancy  Jane  God- 
dard.  The  children  were  J.  B.  (2),  J.  G.  (2),  W.  W.  (2),  Susan  (2) 
Mary  (2),  R.  A.  (2)  and  J.  C.  (2).  J.  B.  (2)  married  Martha  Johnson; 
she  is  the  mother  of  seventeen  children  as  follows:  O.  S.  (3),  J.  H. 
(3),  Eva  (3),  J.  R.  (3),  W.  J.  (3),  R.  R.  (3),  Adah  (3),  Mary  B.  (3), 
Maud  A.  (3),  S.  D  (3),  B.  A.  (3),  C.  B.  (3),  Dimple  (3),  Helen  (3), 
Minnie  (3),  B.  F.  (3),  one  died  in  infancy.  J.  G.  (2)  married  first 
Mary  Miles.  The  children  were  Agustus  (3),  Byron  (3),  Ramond  (3), 
Oma  (3),  Anna  (3).  He  married  second  May  Laughlin  and  they 
have  Ruth  (3),  W.  W.  (2)  married  Susan  Vinson,  second  Miss  Neely; 
he  has  Walter  (3J,  Groover  (3),  Cora  (3),  Siddie  (3),  Thomas  (3), 
George  (3),  Clyde  (3),  Ruby  (3),  William  (3).  Susan  (2)  married 
Amos  Webb,  they  had  Pearl  (3).  Mary  (2)  married  Ira  Dalton;  they 
had  Bessie  (3),  Ella  (3),  Joseph  (3),  Willis  (3),  Jessie  (3).  Dr.  R.  A. 
(2)  married  Maud  Martin,  they  have  Waldo  (3)  and  May  (3).  J.  C. 
(2)  married  Minerva  Webb.  They  have  Nancy  (3),  Beulah  (3), 
Allen  (3),  Daniel  (3),  Mary  Evalins  (3). 

CHAPMAN 

Daniel  Chapman  of  English  ancestry  was  born  in  Westchester 
County,  New  York  1756  and  married  Lucretia  Finch,  also  of 
New  York,  born  in  1769.  They  were  married  1788.  He  served  in  the 
war  of  the  Revolution  and  lived  in  that  state  until  about  1818,  when 
he  came  to  Southern  Illinois.  The  children  were  all  born  in  New 
York  and  are  as  follows:  Elizabeth  (2)  born  1789,  Sally  (2)  born 
1791,  Samuel  Jackson  (2)  born  1794,  Lucretia  (2)  born  1796,  Solomon 
(2)  born  1798,  Daniel  (2)  born  1800,  Hiram  (2)  born  1802,  Amanda 
(2)  born  1804,  Permelia  (2)  born  1806,  Washington  (2)  born  1808, 
Warren  (2)  born  1810.  Elizabeth  (2)  married  David  Hayward  in 
Peru,  N.  Y.,  after  her  death  he  married  Lucretia  (2)  1813.  Their 
children  were  William  Joseph  (3)  born  1813,  Henry  Chapman  (3) 
born  1815,  Betsy  Adeline  (3)  born  1817,  Benjamin  Franklin  (3)  born 
1819,  Amanda  Melvina  (3),  born  1824,  Hiram  Finch  (3),  born  1826. 
Lucretia  Maria  (3)  born  1828,  Samuel  Jackson  (3),  born  1830,  all  in 
Essex  County.  B.  F.  Hayward  (3)  came  to  this  county  on  a  visit 
when  a  young  man  and  married  Vienna  Reynolds.  She  died  and  he 
married  his  cousin,  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Solomon  Chapman.  While 
living  here  he  served  in  the  Mexican  War.  He  moved  to  Nebraska 
with  his  family  about  1858.  He  died  1894.  Lucretia  (3)  married  Mr. 
Severance  and  had  one  son,  Frank  (4)  who  resides  in  Buffalo,  N.  Y. 
and   is   connected   with   the   Buffalo   Historical   Society.     He   married 


344  A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


Lena  L.  Hill  and  they  have  Hay  ward  (5),  Mildred  (5)  and 
Edith  (5).  Mrs.  Lucretia  Severance  (3)  visited  in  this  county, 
1903.  A  son  of  David  and  Lucretia  Hayward  was  elected  to  the 
United  States  Senate  from  Nebraska  about  1810,  but  died  before  he 
took  his  seat.  Sally  (2)  married  William  Boardman  Donaghy  and 
had  William  B.  (3)  and  Elizabeth  (3).  Sally  (2)  married  second 
John  Shoemaker  and  had  one  son,  John  Chapman  (3)  born  1826; 
William  B#  (3)  married  first  Miss  Jones;  second  Miss  Canady  an'i 
had  Sarah  (4),  who  married  a  Mr.  Edwards  and  had  Mary  5,  who 
married  William  Meeks  and  lives  near  Morehouse,  Mo.  W.  B.  (3) 
married  third  Ann  Vanderbilt  and  had  William  B.  (4),  born  1850. 
who  married  Miranda  Jane  Scott,  born  1851;  their  children  were 
William  B.  (5)  born  1874,  Maud  (5)  born  1877,  Minnie  (5)  born  1880, 
Flora  (5)  born  1882,  John  M.  (5)  born  1884,  Nellie  M.  (5)  born  1887. 
W.  B.  (5)  married  Elizabeth  Cruse  1903  and  they  had  Dorothy 
Elizabeth  (6)  born  1904;  William  B.  (6)  born  1906;  Maud  (5)  married 
J.  P.  Miller  1904  and  has  William  Glen  (6) ;  Minnie  (5)  married 
J.  R.  Weirick  1905  and  has  Dorothy  Margaret  (6)  born  1907,  Joseph 
Ray  (6)  born  1907,  Donaghy  (6)  born  1913;  Flora  (5)  married  Manuel 
Smith  1903  and  has  Myra  (6)  born  1907;  John  (5)  married  Effie  C. 
Plater  1906  and  they  have  John  (6)  born  1910,  Joe  Milton  (6)  born 
1913;  Nell  M.  (5)  married  Roy  O.  Osbourn  1912.  Elizabeth  (3) 
married  Allen  Jones  and  had  William  D#  (4)  who  removed  to  Salina, 
Kan.  John  Chapman  Shoemaker  (3)  married  Mahala  Stevenson  1850, 
and  had  Mary  Virginia  (4)  born  1851,  Emma  Ann  (4)  born  1855. 
Mary  Virginia  (4)  married  Joseph  C.  Strawn  and  had  Virginia  C.  (5) 
born  1879,  and  John  C.  S.  (5)  born  1880;  Virginia  C.  (5)  married 
Horace  Gwin;  John  C.  S.  (5)  married  Serena  McGwin  1908  and  they 
had  Mary  Elizabeth  born  1910;  Emma  Ann  (4)  married  George  C. 
Pearson  and  had  Emma  Virginia  (5)  born  1876,  John  C.  S.  (5)  born 
1878;  George  Albert  (5)  born  1879;  Edith  (5)  born  1880.  Emma  V. 
(5)  married  Robert  N.  Fulton  1906  and  had  Mary  (6)  born  1908, 
Edith  Newcomb  (6)  born  1910;  Fred  Harmon  (6)  born  1912,  Alice 
Virginia  (6)  born  1914,  Catherine  (6)  born  1915,  John  Robert  (6)  born 
1917;  John  C.  S.  (5)  married  Harriet  C.  Bugbee,  1906  and  had  John 
Shoemaker  (6)  born  1912  and  Margaret  Ann  (6)  born  1914,  Edwin 
Albert  (6)  born  1917;  George  Albert  (5)  married  Wilhemina  Harvey, 
1909  and  they  had  George  Albert  (6)  born  1911;  Edith  (5)  married 
Obie  Jay  Smith  1902  and  had  George  Pearson  (6)  born  1904,  Obie  J. 
Jr.  (6)  born  1907.  This  branch  of  the  family  reside  in  and  near 
Indianapolis,  Ind.  Samuel  Jackson  (2)  married  Elizabeth  Jackson 
and  had  children  Louisa  (3)  born  1824,  Lucretia  (3)  born  1826, 
Ursula  Agusta  (3)  born  182S,  Franklin  J.  (3)  born  1830,  Jerome  B. 
(3)    born    about    1832.      Louisa    (3)    married    Hiram    Borin    and    had 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY  345 


Franklin  (4),  Elanor  (4),  Samuel  (4),  Grant  (4).  Franklin  (4)  mar- 
ried Miss  Timmons  and  had  Mark  (5),  Ruth  (5),  and  other  children. 
This  family  lives  at  Caledonia,  Pulaski  County  and  belong  to  the 
Borin  family  settling  there  before  1813.  Elanor  (4)  married  Harry 
Mertz  and  had  Dora  (5),  George  (5),  Elberta  (5).  This  family  lives 
in  Carbondale.  Grant  (4)  married  Belle  Jones  of  this  county  and  had 
Martha  (5)  who  married  Dr.  Harbdrecht,  of  Chicago,  111.  Grant  re- 
sides in  St.  Louis.  Lucretia  (3)  married  David  Young  Bridges  and 
had  Elizabeth  Jane  (4)  born  1841,  John  Samuel  (4)  born  1843,  Ursula 
(\)  born  1847,  Franklin  Alonza  (4)  born  1849;  Lucretia  (3)  married 
second  David  Ragains  and  had  Lucretia  (4)  born  1864,  Kitty  (4) 
born  1867,  Charles  J.  (4)  born  1870.  Elizabeth  J.  (4)  married  Dr. 
George  Bratton,  children  Charles  Meggs  (5)  born  1859,  accidently 
killed  by  a  train  when  a  young  man,  1880;  Florence  Ursula  (5)  born 
1871,  William  Harvey  (5)  born  1874,  Agusta  Alberta  (5),  born  1877, 
Florence  Ursula  (5)  married  Charles  H.  Gray  and  has  Nellie  (6) 
born  1890  who  married  Joseph  Cannon  of  Los  Angeles,  Calif.;  Harvey 

(5)  married  Cora  Johnson  and  had  George  (6),  who  lives  in  Los 
Angeles,  Calif.;  Alberta  (5)  married  Ed.  Boyt  1903;  John  S.  (4)  mar- 
ried Mary  Brush,  they  had  Mary  E;.  (5)  born  1867,  Lean  (5)  died  in 
young  womanhood,  Abigal  L.  (5)  born  1878,  Charles  G.  (5)  born  1880. 
Mary  E.  (5)  married  Dr.  E.  J.  Malone,  of  Sikeston,  Mo.  and  has 
Charles  L.  (6),  Wm.  B.  (6)  John  Raymond  (6),  Alberta  (6).  Charles  L. 

(6)  married  Ida  M.  Ramsey;  W.  B.  (6)  married  Ruth  M.  Reed  and  has 
William  Bridges  (7),  Daniel  Elias  (7);  John  R.  (6)  married  Vesta  D. 
O'Brien  and  has  Mary  Ethel  (7).  Abigal  L.  (5)  married  John  A.  Davis 
and  has  John  (6),  Hal  (6),  and  Charles  (6).  Charles  G.  (5)  is  married 
and  resides  in  Chicago;  Ursula  (4)  married  Lyman  Miller  1865  and 
had  George  D.  (5)  who  died  in  young  manhood;  Elizabeth  (5),  Jose- 
phine (5),  Franklin  (5)  and  Lyda  (5).  Elizabeth  (5)  is  a  teacher; 
Josephine  (5)  is  a  business  woman  and  both  live  in  Greely,  Colo. 
Franklin  (5)  is  married  and  has  George  (6),  Robert  (6),  Elizabeth  (G), 
Josephine  (6).  Lyda  (5)  married  Mr.  Fitchell  and  has  Benjamin  (6), 
George  (6)  and  lives  in  Denver,  Colo.  A.  Franklin  (4)  married  Julia 
M.  Brush,  they  had  Daniel  Young  (5)  born,  1873,  Ella  Althia  (5)  born 
1875  is  a  missionary  in  Japan;  Rollin  Eugene  (5)  born  1878,  Albert 
Franklin  (5)  born  1881,  Charlotte  (5)  born  1889.  Daniel  Y.  (5) 
married  Bessie  Buck  and  has  Harry  Buck   (6)   born  1889.     Rollin  E. 

(5)  married  Anna  Brimer  1898  and  has  Julia  Agatha  (6)  born  1904, 
Rollin  (6)  born  1906,  Albert  F.  (6)  born  1908,  Venita  (6)  born  1910, 
Julia  A.  (6)  married  William  Ashley  (6).  Albert  F.  (5)  married 
Alola  Howder,  1908  and  has  Alola  May  (6)  born  1909,  Rollin  H.  (6) 
born  1911,  Albert  F.    (6)   born  1914,  Martin  H.   (6)   born   1916,  Donaid 

(6)  born    1918.     This    family    resides   in    Chicago;    Charlotte    E.    (5) 


346  A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


married  Herbert  C.  Day,  1914  and  has  Virginia  Elizabeth  (6)  born 
1916.  Lucretia  (4)  married  Henry  Whittenberg  and  has  Madge  (5), 
Marion  (5),  Lloyd  (5),  Daniel  (5),  Franklin  (4),  John  (5)  and 
Thos.  (5)  marion  (5)  married  Vada  Betts,  has  Charles  (6),  Martin 
(6),  Mary  (6).  Lloyd  (5)  married  Ruby  Betts.  He  died  and  left 
three  children.  Madge  (5)  married  Ira  Cox,  they  have  several  chil- 
dren and  reside  in  Carbondale.  Kitty  (4)  married  Milford  Rebman, 
a  first  class  farmer,  living  three  miles  west   of  Vienna.     Charles  J. 

(4)  married  Mary  Lee  1893,  children  Raymond  (5)   born  1894,  Lyndal 

(5)  born  1898,  Daniel  (5)  born  1906,  Marian  (5)  born  1914,  Lyndal 
(5)  married  Ernest  Mathis.  They  have  Louise  (6).  Ursula  A.  (3) 
married  Samuel  Hess  1847  and  had  Jerome  B.  (4)  born  1849,  William 

(4)  born  1851,  died  1900;  Samuel  Jackson  Chapman  (4)  born  1853 
Agusta  Alberta  (4)  born  1856,  Franklin  J.  (4)  born  1857,  Alexander 
Lyman  (4)  born  1860,  Herbert  Ross  (4)  born  1862,  George  D.  (4) 
born  1864,  U.  S.  Grant  (4)  born  1867,  died  1897;  Jerome  B.  (4)  married 
first  Josie  Gillespie  and  had  Maud  (5),  who  married  W#  D.  Deans  and 
they  had  Harold  (6)  and  Leslie  (6) ;  Jerome  (4)  married  second  Jane 
Shearer  and  had  Ona  (5)  who  married  William  Rhodes  of  Union 
County.  They  reside  in  N.  M.  S.  J.  C.  (4)  married  Catherine  West, 
they  had  Maud  (5),  Homer  E.  (5)  born  1888,  Chloe  Inez  (5)  bom 
1890,  Grace  Lee   (5)   born  1892,  Bernice  L.   (5)   born  1894,  S.  J.  C.  Jr. 

(5)  born  1897,  Urban  (5)  born  1900.  Chloe  I.  (5)  married  E.  E. 
Webber  of  Marion,  111.  Grace  L.  (5)  married  Mr.  Dodge  of  New 
York  City,  died  1924;  S.  J.  C.  Jr.  (5)  married  Wilma  Harris.  This 
family  have  most  all  left  the  county;  Augusta  A.  (4)  married  H.  M. 
Ridenhower  Jr.  and  had  Agusta  Ursula  (5)  who  married  Raymond 
Sperry,  1907  and  has  Lorraine  (6),  Robert  E.  (6).  Alexander  L.  (4) 
married  Flora  J.  Spann  1886  and  had  Everett  Lyman  (5)  born  1881, 
George  Raymond  (5)  born  1890,  Hallene  (5)  born  1893,  Samuel 
Spann  (5)  born  1895,  Mildred  (5)  born  1903.  Everett  L.  (5)  married 
Madge  Wilson  and  lives  in  Harrisburgh,  George  R.  (5)  married  Emma 
Lawrence  and  has  George  Raymond  Jr.  (6),  Halene  (5)  married 
Ernest  Williams;  Mildred  (5)  married  Monroe  L.  Veach  and  has 
Lora  Josephine  (6).  Herbert  R.  (4)  married  Mary  Hall,  they  had 
Nadine  (5)  born  1900,  Marian  Mario  (5)  born  1902,  Vivian  Rose  (5) 
born  1904,  died  1918;  Lucille  (5)  born  1906.  Nadine  (5)  married 
William  Davis.  Marian  M.  (5)  married  Frank  Smith.  Kranklin  J. 
(3)  married  Elizabeth  Ann  Price  of  Caledonia  1850,  they  had  Florence 
A.  (4)  1S51;  Florence  A.  (4)  married  Bassett  B.  Brownly  1874  and 
had  Catherine  (5)  born  1875  who  married  Agustus  Jennings  1S95  and 
died  about  1920.  They  lived  in  Indianapolis  Ind.  where  Mrs.  Brown- 
lee  still  resides.  Franklin  J.  (3)  married  second  Mary  C.  Stewart,  of 
Metropolis,  111.,  born  1836,  married   1852,  they  had  Louisa  Borin    (4) 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY  347 

born  1854,  Mary  Elizabeth  (4)  born  1856,  Samuel  Jackson  (4)  born 
1858,  Henry  Clinton  (4)  born  1869.  Louisa  B.  (4)  married  William 
H.  Ashley  1871,  they  had  William  Henry  (5),  Edgar  Chapman  (5) 
Charles  Horner  (5)  William  H.  (5)  married  Emma  R.  Gill  1897  and 
had  Charles  Edgar  (6),  born  1899,  who  married  Opal  Ridenhower  and 
has  Elizabeth.  Edgar  Chapman  (5)  married  Gertrude  Davis  1899, 
children,  Edgar  Chapman  Jr.  (6)  born  1900;  Deneen  Davis  (6)  born 
1904,  Mary  Louise  (6)  born  1909.  Charles  Horner  (5)  married  Edna 
Fisher  1900  and  has  William  Richard  (6)  born  1901,  who  married 
Julia  A.  Bridges  (6).  Samuel  Jackson  (4)  married  Carrie  Campbell, 
died  1905;  Harry  C.  (4)  married  Mamie  Cantwell  1900,  children, 
Catherin  (5)  born  1901  and  Elizabeth  (5),  residents  of  Chicago,  111. 
Mary  E.  (4)  married  Lafayett  Putman  in  1879,  they  had  lone  (5)  born 
1881,  Don  William  (5),  Catherin  (5),  Alma  Bernice  (5).  lone  (5) 
married  John  Foster.  This  family  lives  in  Attica,  Ind.  Franklin  J. 
Chapman  (3)  moved  from  this  county  to  Carbondale,  111.,  some  time 
in  the  sixties  and  none  of  his  family  reside  in  the  county.  Jerome 
B.  (3)  married  first  Laura  Russell  of  Massac  County,  they  had 
Franklin  Jackson  (4)  born  1858,  Libbie  Elanor  (4)  born  1860.  Frank- 
lin J.  (4)  married  Ruth  Madden  1880,  they  had  Franklin  Jackson  Jr., 
(5),  Bess  Madden  (5).  F.  J.  Jr.  (5)  married  Lisa  Wallace  1920.  He 
is  a  business  man  of  Chicago,  111.;  Bess  M.  (5)  married  George  E. 
Galeener,  1912,  and  has  Edwin  Chapman  (6) ;  Libbie  E.  (4)  married 
William  R.  Wiley  and  had  Loyd  (5)  born  1881,  Laura  Vale  (5)  born 
1884,  Bardine  R.  (5)  born  1887,  John  Jerome  (5)  born  1890,  Carl 
Herbert  (5)  born  1892.  Loyd  (5)  married  Lena  Hughes,  children 
Blanch  Lena  (6)  born  1903,  Melbyrne  Loyd  (6)  born  1906,  Alice  May 
(6)  born  1910;  Laura  V.  (5)  married  George  H.  Massey  1914,  has 
Jeanne  (6) ;  Bardine  R.  (5)  married  H.  C.  McLaughlin  and  has  Oral 
Wayne  (6)  born  1907,  Olga  Laura  (6),  born  1910;  John  Jerome  (5) 
married  and  has  Donald  (6).  W.  R.  Wiley  moved  from  this  county 
about  1884  and  the  family  resides  in  Auburn  Washington; 
Jerome  B.  (3)  married  second  Clara  (Russell)  Adams  1883,  they  had 
Samuel  Jackson  (4)  born  1884,  Jerome  B.  (4)  born  1890,  Samuel  J. 
(4)  married  Pearl  Woodward  and  has  Virginia  (5)  born  1912;  Jerome 
B.  (4)  was  accidently  killed  in  a  motorcycle  accident' when  a  young 
man.  Solomon  Chapman  (2)  married  Sarah  Ann,  they  had  Permelia 
(3),  Amanda  (3),  George  W.  (3),  Lucretia  E.  (3),  Daniel  (3),  Wm. 
H.  (3),  Permelia  (3)  married  Tipton  Collier  of  Massac  County; 
Amanda  (3)  married  Gilbert  Padget,  had  one  or  two  children,  one 
son  lived  in  Chicago  1900;  Amanda  (3)  married  second  Mr.  Brown 
and  had  two  children;  Lucretia  E.  (3)  married  Frank  Hayward; 
William  H.  (3)  married  Mary  Burris,  had  Olive  (4),  Luela  (4); 
William  H#  died  at  Annapolis,  Maryland,  while  serving  in  the   Civil 


348  A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


War.  Olive  (4)  married  Mr.  Alread  and  moved  to  Texas;  Luela  (4) 
married  I.  N.  Davies  of  this  county,  they  had  Olive  Gertrude  (5), 
Daisy  Ethel  (5).  James  Otis  (5),  Goss  Loyd  (5).  Olive  Gertrude  (5) 
married  Frank  Crowder,  their  children  were  Ruth  (6),  Pearl  (6;, 
Ferrel  (6),  Halie  (6),  Thelma  (6),  Daisy  E.  (5)  married  S.  H.  (see 
Taylor);  married  second  CSolumbus  R.  Verhines  and  has  Thelma  (6), 
Wilma  (6),  Dorthy  (6),  Davis  (6),  Luela  (6).  J.  Otis  (5)  married 
Clate  Keeler;  Goss  L.  (5)  married  Mamie  Wigam  and  has  James 
Loyd  (6)  and  Brad  (6).  Daniel  Chapman  (2)  married  Elizabeth  Du- 
Poister,  they  had  Daniel  Clinton  (3)  born  1828,  Sarah  (3)  born  about 
1830,  James  Monroe  (3)  born  1832,  Amanda  (3)  born  about  1834, 
Thomas  (3)  born  1837,  Tamberlin  (3)  born  about  1838,  Leonidas  (3) 
born  1840.  Daniel  C.  (3)  married  Mary  Elizabeth  Rose  1853,  their 
children  were  Pleasant  Thomas  (4)  born  1854,  James  Clinton  (4) 
born  1856,  Sidney  Ann  (4)  born  1858,  Daniel  Leonidas  (4)  born  1861, 
Elizabeth  Sherman  (4)  born  1865,  Ida  Catherine  (4)  born  1867, 
Estelle  Belle  (4)  born  1874,  Charles  Hiram  (4)  born  1877.  Pleasant 
T.  (4)  married  Leorah  May  Copeland  1882,  their  children  are  Daniel 
Ward  (5)  born  1883,  Marian  (5)  1887,  Ralph  D.  C.  (5)  born  1892. 
D.  W.  (5)  married  Cora  Burnett;  Marian  (5)  married  Paul  C.  Raborg 
1908.  She  married  second  Major  John  N.  Greely  1920  and  has  John 
Chapman  (6)  born  1924.  Ralph  (5)  married  Beatrice  V.  Copley  1920. 
James  C.  (4)  married  Celia  Ann  Oliver  1889  and  has  Oliver  D.  (5) 
born  1889,  James  Clinton  (5)  born  1892,  Robert  Edward  (5),  Joe  L. 
(5),  Mary  (5),  George  (5),  Robert  E.  (5)  married  Gladys  Broadway 
1917  and  has  Robert  (6)  born  1917,  Margaret  D.  (6)  and  Morris  (6) 
born  1919;  Sidney  Ann  (4)  married  Alonzo  G.  Benson  1878,  they  had 
Eva  Alonzo  (5)  born  1879,  Arthur  Chapman  (5)  born  1880,  John 
Sidney  (5)  born  1883,  Mary  Celinda  (5)  born  1885.  Eva  A.  (5)  mar 
ried  A.  J.  Kuykendall  and  has  Andrew  Jackson  (6)  born  1903,  Sidney 
Alonzo  (6).  A.  J.  (6)  is  married  and  lives  in  the  east.  Arthur  C.  (5) 
married  Fay  Herrin,  children  James  (6),  Sidney  A.  (6),  Rose  Mary  (6) 
born  1922;  John  C.  (5)  married  Albertie  Lowery  1905  and  has  Elsie 
(6)  born  1905,  Paul  (4)  born  1910,  Helen  (6)  born  1912;  Mary  C. 
(5)  married  first  Mr.  Hudgens  1905  and  had  Sidney  (6)  born  1905, 
married  second  O.  H.  Guinn  and  has  one  son.  D.  L.  (4)  married  Kate 
Thomas,  a  native  of  Wales,  1889.  They  had  Richard  Daniel  (5)  born 
1891,  who  married  Regna  Moss  and  has  Mary  Moss  (6) ;  Pleasant 
Thomas  Jr.,  (5)  born  1895  married  Florence  Simpson  they  have 
Betty  Ann  (6).  The  father  of  these  boys  was  called  Tobe  and  died 
when  a  young  man;  their  mother  died  a  few  years  later.  They  botli 
served  in  the  World  War.  Dick  as  a  Lieutenant  in  France  and  Pleas 
Junior  in  the  Transportation  Department;  Elizabeth  (4)  married  J. 
N.  Benson  1885  and  has  Eugene  Chapman   (5)  and  James  Daniel   (5) 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY  349 


married  Anna  (Simmons)  Verhines  1924;  Estella  B.  (4)  married  Noel 
Whitehead  1893  the  children  are  Noel  Paul  (5),  Clinton  Silvester  (5), 
Mary  Elizabeth  (5).  Noel  P.  (5)  married  Alice  Chester  and  has  John 
(6).  Mary  E.  (5)  married  William  Walker.  Paul  served  in  France 
as  a  Lieutenant  in  the  World  War.  Clinton  served  in  the  Navy  during 
the  same  war.  Chas.  H.  (4)  married  Nelle  Perkins  1903;  they  have 
Helen  (5)  born  1915;  their  daughter  Harriet  died  in  youth.  Sarah 
(3)  married  Starling  Simmons,  children  Richmond  (4),  Frank  (4), 
and  Mary  (4).  Richmond  (4)  married  Cora  Woodward.  Frank  (4) 
married  first  Delia  Pruett  and  had  Vernie  (5),  he  married  second 
Ida  Bridges,  several  children;  Mary  (4)  married  Marshall  Dunn 
L883,  children  Allie  (5),  Levi  (5),  May  (5),  Elizabeth  (5).  The  two 
latter  families  live  in  Missouri.  Amanda  (3)  married  Samuel  Damron 
about  1856,  they  had  James  M.  (4)  born  1857,  who  married  Florence 
Scott  and  their  children  were  Loyd  (5),  Noimand  (5),  Florence  (5). 
The  mother  and  daughters  live  in  California.  Samuel  T.  (4)  who 
married  Anna  Chapman  (4),  they  had  Samuel  (5).  Thomas  J.  (3) 
married  Margaret  Van  Meter  1857,  they  had  Anna  (4)  born  1864. 
who  married  first  Samuel  T.  Damron  (4),  second  Walter  Will- 
iams, they  live  at  Ashland,  111.  James  M.  (3)  married  Sarah  Van 
Meter,  they  had  Bertha  (4)  who  married  a  Mr.  Pool,  Raymond  (4) 
and  James  (4).  This  family  lived  near  Cameron,  Mo.  Tamberlin 
(3)  married  Sarah  Burk  1866  and  had  Tamberlin  Burk  (4)  born 
1867,  Edwin  Mace  (4)  born  1869,  Andrew  Daniel  (4)  born  1870,  Sarah 
Elizabeth  (4)  born  1873.  Tamberlin  B.  (4)  married  Anna  B.  Hagler 
1892  and  has  Harry  Laurence  (5),  Vera  Ethel  (5)  born  1895,  Macy 
Daniel  (5)  born  1896,  Stella  Catherine  (5)  born  1906.  Vera  Ethel 
(5)  married  George  L.  Rudolph  1915.  T.  B.  (4)  and  family  reside  in 
Boise,  Idoha.  A.  D.  (4)  married  Rosa  Weaver  of  Teras;  they  reside 
in  that  state.  E.  M.  (4)  married  Daisy  Blake,  they  have  Virginia 
(5)  and  are  residents  of  Clovis,  N#  M.  Sarah  E.  (4)  married  O.  A. 
Arpln,  1892  and  had  Sarah  Josephine  (5)  born  1883,  Tamberlin  Edward 
(5)  born  1884.  Sarah  J.  (5)  married  F.  H.  Freeback  1913  they  have 
three  children;  Tamberlin  E.  (5)  married  in  1912,  has  two  sons, 
Sarah  E.  (4)  died  about  1921,  the  family  lives  in  Elpaso,  Texas. 
Leonidas  Chapman  (3)  was  born  and  raised  in  this  county,  was  a 
soldier  in  the  Civil  War  and  married  Sarah  A.  Francis,  also  of  this 
county,  they  had  James  Monroe  (4)  born  1867,  Mary  Elizabeth  (4) 
born  1868,  Sarah  Ann  (4)  born  1871,  Nancy  Catherine  (4)  born 
1872,  Margaret  (4)  born  1875,  Samuel  Edmond  (4)  born  1877,  Daniel 
Leonidas  (4)  born  1879,  Bertha  (4)  born  1885.  James  M.  (4)  married 
Jennett  Murlin  1893,  they  had  Fern  (5)  who  married  Charles  Johnson 
1911,  they  had  William  Gilbert  (5)  Carl  (5),  Elenor  (5),  Anita  (5). 
Mary  E.   (4)    married  Grant  Whiteside  1886,  they  had  John   Lee   (5) 


350  A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 

born  1888,  Sherman  Daniel  (5)  born  1890,  James  Grant  (5)  born  1898. 
John  L.  (5)  married  Retta  Simpson  and  has  George  (6).  Sherman  (5) 
married  Lorene  Martin  and  has  Ralph  (6)  and  Evalin  (6).  Grant 
(5)  married  Grace  Pfluger  and  has  Cornelia  (6)  and  Lewis  Edward 
(6);  Sarah  Ann  (4)  married  John  D.  Gillespie  1893  and  has  Roy 
Francis  (5)  born  1895,  Leon  (5)  born  1900.  Roy  F.  (5)  married  May 
E.  Laughlin  1917;  Catherine  (4)  married  Charles  Kenroyer;  Margaret 
(4)  married  Eugene  Freeman  and  has  Eugene  Jr.  (5)  and  Helen 
Reason  (5);  Samuel  E#  (4)  married  Florence  Burson  1903;  Daniel  L. 
(4)  married  Mary  E.  Tender  1906,  they  have  Lauren  (5)  born  1907, 
Mary  V.  (5)  born  1910,  Loyd  (5)  born  1913;  Bertha  May  (4)  married 
Thomas  Fitzpatric  1902,  Daniel  Chapman  (2)  married  second  Mrs. 
Elizabeth  House  and  had  Hiram  (3)  who  married  Elizabeth  Bradley. 
They  removed  to  Missouri  where  they  raised  their  family.  Hiram 
(2)  was  an  early  teacher  of  this  county  died  when  a  young  man. 
Permelia  Chapman  (2)  married  Ishmael  Veach,  about  1822,  they  had 
Freelan  (3),  Albert  (3)  born  1824,  Almina  (3)  born  about  1826. 
Lucinda  (3),  Melissa  (3),  Pleasant  G.  (3),  Mariah  (3),  Allen  (3) 
killed  at  Shiloh  during  Civil  War.  Freelan  (3)  married  Sally  Chapman 
(3).  James  Albert  (3)  married  Nancy  Buckhanan  1846,  and  had 
Thomas  (4),  James  (4),  George  (4);  Albert  (3)  married  second 
Laura  Du  Poister  1864,  and  had  Martha  (4),  Mary  (4)  Lucinda  (4), 
Amanda  (4).  Albert  (3)  married  third  Mrs.  Matilda  (Stone)  Barn- 
well and  had  Sarah  (4),  Frank  (4),  Jennie  (4),  Thomas  (4)  married 
Jane  Thomas,  they  had  Fred  (5),  Bell  (5).  He  married  second 
Adeline  Simpson  and  had  Walter  (5)  who  married  Dora  Farmer. 
Fred  (5)  married  Delia  Jones  (see  Simpson).  Belle  (5)  married  Mr. 
McGeever  and  had  Sylvia  (6),  Gertrude  (6).  J.  C.  (4)  married  Jose- 
phine Ausbridge,.  George  (4)  married  Jane  Silevan,  children 
Bertha  (5)  married  Charles  Hood.  Oscar  (5),  Gertrude  (5)  married 
Roy  Isom,  children,  Roy  Veach  (6),  Frances  (6);  Norman  (5),  Charles 
(5),  Fanny  (5).  Martha  (4)  married  James  Meredith.  Mary  (4)  mar- 
ried Mr.  Lindsey.  Lucinda  (4)  married  Monroe  Trigg  and  had 
Newton  (5),  Frank  (5),  May  (5).  Amanda  (4)  married  Mr.  Jennings 
and  had  two  children;  Sarah  (4)  married  William  Anderson  and  had 
Myrtle  (5),  Julia  (5),  William  (5),  Albert  (5);  Myrtle  (5)  married 
Everett  Beggs  and  has  children  Gladys  (6),  Evyline  (6). 
Albert  (5)  married  Bertie  Kerley.  These  families  live  in  St.  Louis: 
Frank  Veach  (4)  married  Ann  Johnson  and  has  Dimple  (5),  Roy  (5), 
Clarence  (5).  Dimple  (5)  married  Mr.  Hurley.  Clarence  (5)  married 
Lottie  Holcomb.  Frank  (4)  married  second  Mary  Smart  and  has 
Allen  (5),  Olive  (5),  Dallas  (5)  Lula  (5),  Ethel  (5)  Albert  (5>. 
Jennie  (4)  married  Frank  Shavitz  and  has  Miriam  (5),  Ruth  (5)  and 
two  others.     Alimina  (3)  married  J.  L.  Thomas,  an  early  minister  of 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY  351 


this  county  and  had  John  F.  (4)  born  1845,  Frank  D.  (4)  born  1848, 
Mary  (4)  born  1851,  John  F.  (4)  married  Mary  J.  Barnwell,  and  they 
had  William  (5),  Laura  (5),  Ella  (5).  Frank  (4)  married  Ellen 
Grlanahan  had  Delia  (5),  Anna  (5),  Almina  (5),  Frank  (5)  and 
Hal  (5).  Frank  (5)  married  Myrtle  Moore  of  this  county  and  is  a 
business  man  of  Vienna,  111.  Mary  (4)  married  William  Jones  and  had 
Effie  (5).  Lucinda  (3)  married  Wiley  Holt  and  had  Ishmael  (4), 
Lucinda  Jane  (4),  Ellen  (4),  Alice  Mary  (4),  Ishmael  (4)  married 
Addie  Beggs  and  had  Wiley  (5),  William  (5)  and  Charles  (5).  Wiley 
(5)  married  Chloe  Burnett  and  has  Gladys  (6).  Charles  (5)  married 
Fannie  Kelly.  Lucinda  J.  (4)  married  John  Whiteside  and  has 
Minnie  (5),  India  (5)  Lula  (5),  John  (5),  James  (5),  Ettie  (5), 
Charles  (5),  Coy  (5),  Reverdia  (5).  Minnie  (5)  married  Ed.  Ross  and 
has  Neoma  (6)  and  Claude  (6);  India  (5)  married  Otis  Barnwell  and 
they  have  Lowell  (6),  Ina  (6),  Opal  (6),  Clyde  (6),  Uel  (6),  Fredia 
(6),  John  (6),  Leota  (6).  Lowell  (6)  married  Lutie  Mollahan.  Lula 
(5)  married  William  Gray  and  has  Herman  (6),  Hazel  (6),  Murel  (6), 
Howard  (6),  Kenneth  (6).  John  (5)  married  Ruth  Barney  and  has 
Catherine  (6).  James  (5)  married  Delia  French  and  has  Gladys  (6), 
Herbert  (6),  Glen  (6),  Lyndell  (6).  Ettie  (5)  married  Walter  Mc- 
Fatridge  and  has  Loise  (6),  Charles  (5)  married  Minnie  Taylor  and 
has  Emaline  (6).  Coy  (5)  married  Ela  Warcheck.  Ellen  (4) 
married  Marshall  Turner  and  had  William  (5),  John  (5),  Addie  (5), 
.Mary  J.  (5).  William  (5)  married  Mary  Kinslow  .and  had  Walter 
(6),  Ruth  (6).  John  (5)  married  Jennie  Kinslow  and  had  Arthur  (6) 
Addie  (5)  married  Tobey  Cress  and  has  three  children.  Mary  J. 
(5)  married  Mr.  Hinkle.  Alice  (4)  married  Frank  Mathis  and  had 
Mary  (5),  Benjamin  (5),  Alvin  (5),  Nora  (5),  Cressie  (5),  Charles 
(5),  Fay  (5).  Mary  (5)  married  Charles  Kelley  and  had  Alvin  (6) 
and  Benjamin  (6).  Both  married  Keislers.  A.  Mary  (4)  married  John 
Davis  and  had  Thomas  (5),  Everett  (5),  Bronzie  (5),  Esco  (5),  Alton 
(5).  Melissa  (3)  married  Hardy  Holt  and  had  Gastie  (4).  They 
removed  to  Kentucky.  Pleasant  G.  (3)  married  Belle  Keith  and  had 
Allen  (4),  Florence  (4),  John  (4),  Edward  (4),  Thomas  (4).  Pleasant 
G.  (3)  married  third  Amy  Van  Cleve  and  had  Ray  (4)  and  May  (4). 
Allen  (4)  married  Mattie  Harvick,  1882  and  had  Bertha  (5)  and 
Ward  (5).  Bertha  (5)  married  Mr.  Oaker  and  has  one  son.  Ward 
(5)  married  and  died  young,  leaving  one  daughter.  Florence  (4) 
married  T.  M.  Van  Cleve,  a  teacher  of  Saline  County  and  a  native 
of  this  county,  has  Fredia  (5),  Hilda  (5),  Fred  and  Ed  (5).  Fredia  (5) 
married  Amos  Pullian.  Hilda  (5)  married  Clyde  Doly  and  has  Caro- 
line (6).  Ed  (5)  married  Edna  Simpson  1922  and  has  Thomas  Edgar 
(6).  John  (4)  married  Rose  Sams  and  has  Earl  (5),  Delia  (5),  Helen 
(5),  Ethel   (5),  Mary   (5),  John   (5)   Beatrice   (5)   and  Lois   (5).     Earl 


352  A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


Veach  (5)  married  Ruth  Boaz  and  has  Rosanna  (6)  and  Virginia  (6). 
Delia  (5)  married  Logan  Williamson  and  has  Helen  Francis  (6). 
Helen  (5)  married  Everett  McMahan  and  has  Everett  Lee  (6),  Joh.i 
Hugh  (6),  Earle  (6).  Ethel  (5)  married  W.  N.  Carter  and  has  Rose 
Mary  (6)  and  Susanna  (6).    Mary  (5)  married  George  Brush.    Edward 

(4)  married  Myrtle  Burris  and  has  Ina  (5),  Amy  (5),  Ray  (5)  and 
May  (5)  have  removed  from  the  county.  Thomas  (4)  married  and 
lives  in  Portland,  Oregon.  Mariah  (3)  married  Frank  Silevan  and  had 
Mary  (4),  Melissa  (4)  Ettie  (4),  Minnie  (4).  Melissa  (4)  married 
H.   C.   Chapman    (3),   1890   and   has   Earl   C.    (5)    born   1892,   Frank   S. 

(5)  born  1896,  Ward  W.  (5)  born  1898,  George  W.  (5)  born  1910, 
Lawrence  W.  (5)  born  1904,  William  L.  (5)  born  1906,  H.  C.  Jr.  (5) 
born  1908.  This  family  lives  in  Sanger,  Texas;  Ettie  (4)  married 
Lawrence  Woollard  and  has  one  son,  Dona  (5).  Minnie  (4)  married 
Charles  Mangum  and  Mary  (4)  married  Charles  Murrie.  George  W. 
Chapman  (2)  married  Cynthia  Jobe  1835  and  had  William  (3),  Luc- 
retia  (3),  Amanda  (3),  Martha  A.  (Polly)   (3),  Elizabeth  (3).     William 

(3)  married   Miss  Waters    (not   certain)    and  had   Clinton    (4),   Mary 

(4)  Robert   (4),  who  died  1884,  Franklin   (4),  Thomas    (4).     Franklin 

(4)  married  Luella  Casper  of  New  Burnside  Township  and  they  had 
several  children  and  removed  to  Oklahoma.  Mary  (4)  married  Mr. 
Spillman,  had  Anna  (5) ;  married  second  Mr.  Stiff,  three  children. 
Polly  (3)  married  Hiram  H.  Wise  and  had  children  T.  C.  (4),  Frank- 
lin M.  (4),  William  (4),  George  O.  (4),  Charles  H.  (4),  Florence  (4), 
Mary  (4).  Thomas  C.  (4)  married  first  Mary  McSparin.  They  had 
O.  A.  (5)  and  James  T.  (5).  He  married  second  Margaret  Reeder, 
their  children  were  Mollie  (5),  George  N.  (5),  Donzella  (5),  Harry 
H.  (5),  Flo  (5).  Mollie  (5)  married  Walter  Smith.  George  N.  (5) 
married  Lula  Etherton.     Donzell  (5)  married  J.  B.  Morray.     Harry  H. 

(5)  married  Beatrice  Jones.  Flo  (5)  married  James  Steagall.  Frank 
M.  (4)  married  Cora  Randall.  He  took  the  name  of  his  mother, 
Chapman,  they  had  Ines  (5),  Paul  (5)  Ruth  (5).  Inez  (5) 
married  Dr.  William  Whittenburg,  of  Stillwater,  Oklahoma,  and  has 
Frank  Chapman  (6),  Sara  (6).  Paul  (5)  married  and  died,  leaving 
one  daughter  in  California.  Ruth  (5)  married  J.  W.  Taylor  of  Stil- 
water,  Okla.  George  O.  (4)  married  Esther  Jones,  one  son,  George 
M.  (5).  Mary  (4)  married  A.  I.  Sumner  and  had  Inez  (5)  who  mar- 
ried Mr.  Craig;  Laura  (5)  married  Mr.  Norman;  and  Ralph  (5) 
Eugene  (5),  Carl  (5).  Charles  H.  (4)  married  Emma  Duty,  had  chil- 
dren Earnest  (5),  Ava  (5),  Jet  (5).  Florence  M.  (4)  married  G.  S. 
Burnett,  had  children  Iva  (5),  Donzella  (5),  Hugh  (5),  Frank  (5), 
George  (5),  Calvin  (5),  Leota  (5),  Dorothy  (5)  and  Dorris  (5). 
Amanda  (3)  married  George  Graves,  had  children  Mary  (4),  Margaret 
(4),  Alice    (4).     Mary    (4)   married  Columbus  Medlin  and  had   Grace 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY  353 


(5),  Webb  (5).  Margaret  (4)  married  Frank  Medlin  and  had  Inez 
(5),  George  (5).  Alice  (4)  married  Mr.  Gregg,  had  two  children, 
Lucretia  Finch  (3)  married  Jay  Van  Trammell  1864,  had  children, 
Thomas  F.  (4),  Amanda  E.  (4),  Jehu  (4),  Cynthia  J.  (4),  Minnie  (4), 
James  Webb  (4).  Thomas  F.  (4)  married  Bell  Mofield,  they  have 
Jay  V.  (5),  Clara  (5),  Thomas  (5).  Jay  V.  (5)  married  Pearl  Mason 
and  they  have  Nellie  (6),  Mason  (6),  Thomas  F.  (6),  Lucretia  (6). 
This  family  resides  at  Stonefort,  111.  Amanda  E.  (4)  married  L.  O. 
Whitnel  and  has  Ella  (5),  Josiah  (5),  George  Trammell  (5).  Ella 
(5)  married  George  Beardsley,  a  prominent  attorney  of  Kansas  City, 
Mo.,  and  has  Melvill  (6),  Henry  (6).  Josiah  is  an  attorney  of  East 
St.  Louis,  111.  George  T.  married  Amanda  Sacks  and  is  a  civil 
engineer  of  East  St.  Louis.  Jehu  (4)  married  Latta  Cox  and  has 
Jean  Elizabeth  (6),  Phillip  Webb  (6).  Cynthia  (4)  is  a  teacher  of 
E.  St.  Louis,  111.  Minnie  (4)  married  Dr.  Gilbert  Brewer  of  Stonefort, 
where  they  reside,  and  has  Cynthia  (5),  Gray  (5),  Gilbert  (5).  J.  W. 
(4)  is  a  graduate  of  the  Naval  Academy  and  has  reached  the  rank 
of  Lieut.  Commander  in  the  U.  S.  Navy.  Elizabeth  (3)  married 
Christopher  Camden  had  several  children  all  are  now  dead.  Mack 
(4)  married  Belle  Snyder  and  left  several  sons.  Cynthia  (4)  married 
a  Mr.  McGee  and  left  two  children.  Monta  (4)  married  Mr.  Lawrence 
Warren  Chapman  (2),  from  the  best  information,  married  Polly  Harris 
and  had  William  (3),  who  was  killed  at  Fort  Donelson  1862;  Marcus 
D.  Lafayette  (3),  Francis  Theodore  (3),  who  died  in  this  county  1899, 
Marcus  D.  (3)  married  Ellen  Read,  1860  and  had  Samuel  Jackson  (4) 
born  1861,  Cora  (4)  born  1866,  Dora  (4)  born  1869.  Samuel  J.  (4) 
married  Laney  Darck  1895  and  had  Ralph  W.  (5),  born  1896,  he 
served  in  the  World  War  as  Yeoman  in  the  Navy,  Opal  (5)  born  1898: 
John  D.  (5)  born  1906,  Charles  A.  (5)  born  1910.  Cora  married 
Thomas  Wallace  1884  and  had  James  Wallar  (5)  born  1885,  Dora  (5) 
born  1888,  Estelle  (5)  born  1890,  Charles  Samuel  (5)  born  1893, 
Moody  C.  (5)  born  1896,  Ted  (5)  born  1902.  J.  Wallar  (5)  married 
Kattie  Holcomb  1909,  and  has  Thomas  Warren  (6)  1910;  Dora  (5) 
married  A.  E.  Lamerson  1910  and  has  Mary  Estella  (6),  born  1911, 
they  reside  in  Rawlins,  Wyoming;  Estella  (5)  married  Agustus  P. 
Huff,  1914  and  has  Estella  Elizabeth  (6)  born  1917  and  lives  in 
Cheynne,  Wyoming.  Samuel  J.  Chapman,  the  pioneer  came  here 
about  1817  from  New  York  State.  A  son  of  Wesley  Reynolds  says, 
the  tradition  in  their  family  is;  Ivy  Reynolds,  his  grandfather,  with 
a  Mr.  Chapman  and  his  wife  and  a  Mr.  Drake  built  a  boat  in  Cin- 
cinnati and  floated  down  the  Ohio  in  1817,  landing  at  what  is  now 
Golconda.  The  reason  for  supposing  this  was  Samuel  Chapman  and 
wife,  is  that  the  other  Chapmans,  except  Daniel,  the  Revolutionary 
soldier,    coming   here    married    in    this    county.      He    owned    land    at 


354  A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 

Bloomfield  and  was  postmaster  there  in  1819.  He  also  owned  land 
east  of  the  court  house  square  in  Vienna  and  on  the  left  of  the  road 
leading  to  the  cemetery.  He  kept  tavern  here  for  many  years  and 
was  a  prominent  citizen  of  his  time.  He  was  a  soldier  in  the  War 
of  1812,  serving  from  New  York  State,  was  wounded  at  Lundy's  Lane 
for  which  he  drew  a  pension.  (For  family  see  Chapman.)  Col.  D. 
Y.  Bridges  belonged  to  one  of  the  oldest  families  of  the  county  and 
was  a  son-in-law  of  Samuel  J.  Chapman.  He  was  connected  with 
all  the  movements  of  progress  in  the  county  and  Vienna  from  the 
time  of  his  manhood  until  his  death  which  occured  in  1857.  (For 
family  see  Chapman.) 

D.  C.  Chapman  was  a  native  of  this  county,  born  1828,  a  son  of 
Daniel  and  Elizabeth  (DePoister).  D.  C.  settled  in  Tunnel  Hill  Town- 
ship in  1853,  where  he  followed  farming  all  his  life.  He  was  elected 
sheriff  of  the  county  twice  and  filled  out  the  unexpired  term  of  L.  D. 
Craig.  He  was  always  ready  to  help  anyone  in  need  and  his  counsel 
and  advice  was  always  dependable.  He  was  said  to  be  a  man  with 
few  if  any,  enemies.  He  served  as  a  teamster  in  the  Mexican  War. 
His  first  farm  was  quite  small  having  purchased  the  improvement 
from  Dr.  J.  B.  Ray,  he  added  more  from  time  to  time,  buying  some 
from  the  government  at  a  "bit"  per  acre  and  for  some  he  paid  $1.25 
per  acre.  He  was  a  republican,  and  a  mason.  He  died  in  1888.  For 
family  (see  Chapman).  His  widow  resided  on  the  farm  for  several 
years,  but  spent  her  last  days  in  the  home  of  her  oldest  son  P.  T.  in 
Vienna,  having  lived  there  twenty  years.  She  died  in  1920,  lacking 
a  few  days  of  being  eighty-five  years  old. 

Pleasant  T.  Chapman  was  the  son  of  D.  C.  and  Mary  (Rosei 
Chapman,  and  was  born  on  the  farm,  eight  miles  north  of  Vienna, 
1854.  He  is  the  fourth  generation  of  that  name,  descending  from 
Daniel  Chapman,  the  Revolutionary  soldier.  Pleas,  as  he  is  familarily 
known,  received  his  early  education  in  the  public  schools  of  the 
county,  going  to  Lebanon,  111.  for  more  advanced  work,  graduating 
from  McKendrie  College  in  1876.  He  followed  teaching  for  four  years 
studying  law  in  the  offices  of  Judge  H.  H.  Horner,  of  Lebanon  and 
A.  G.  Damron  of  Vienna,  between  sessions.  He  was  admitted  to  the 
bar  in  1879  and  immediately  began  the  practice  of  law  in  this  county, 
meanwhile  he  engaged  in  other  business.  He  with  C.  Colin  and  J. 
N.  Poor  opened  the  first  bank  in  Vienna  in  1883.  He  was  elected 
president  when  the  bank  was  nationalized  and  has  served  in  that 
capacity  thirty-five  years.  He  has  at  different  times  been  interested 
in  the  mercantile,  lumber  and  livery  business,  and  for  many  years 
has  been  interested  in  farming  and  stock-raising.  Mr.  Chapman  has 
also  taken  an  active  part  in  politics,  and  was  elected  Superintendent 
of  schools,  also  county  judge.     In   1890  he  was  elected  to  the   State 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY  355 


Senate  serving  in  that  body,  twelve  years.  In  1904  he  was  elected 
to  represent  the  24th  district  in  Congress  and  was  re-elected  twice, 
retiring  in  1911.  Mr.  Chapman  has  always  been  a  republican  in 
politics.  He  is  a  Knights  Templar  and  thirty-second  degree  mason, 
belongs  to  the  M.  E.  church  and  has  served  on  the  official  board  tor 
years.  He  married  Leorah  May  Copeland,  a  native  of  Pulaski  County. 
Their  son,  D.  W.,  better  known  as  Ward  is  cashier  of  the  First 
National  Bank  and  a  business  man  of  Vienna,  111.  He  volunteered 
in  1917  and  served  in  the  World  War  as  a  lieutenant  in  the  Yankee 
or  26th  Division,  was  wounded  near  Belleau  Wood,  France,  by  a 
shell,  July  the  11th,  1918.  He  recovered  sufficiently  to  be  on  duty 
at  Blois,  France.  He  was  severely  injured  in  a  railroad  accident, 
Dec.  5,  1918,  near  Orleans,  France  and  was  a  patient  in  French  and 
United  States  hospitals  until  Jan.,  1920.  Marian,  the  daughter  is  the 
wife  of  Major  John  N.  Greely  of  the  regular  army.  Ralph,  the  youngest 
conducts  an  investment  securities  business  in  Chicago.  He  volun- 
teered for  service  in  the  World  War  in  May,  and  entered  the  first 
training  camp  at  Fort  Sheridan.  He  was  commissioned  a  Lieutenant, 
and  went  over  seas,  Sept.  1917.  He  served  with  the  5th  Marines,  in 
the  second  division  for  some  time  but  was  later  transferred  to  the 
9th  Infantry.  Was  in  action  at  the  defense  of  Chatteau  Thierry,  and 
received  the  Crois  de  Guerre  for  service  at  Veaux.  He  was  wounded 
near  Soissons  on  the  first  day  of  Foch's  offensive,  July  18,  1918. 
Ward  and  Ralph  are  both  graduates  of  the  University  of  Illinois; 
Marian  is  a  graduate  of  Monticello  Academy,  Godfrey,  111. 

F.  J.  Chapman,  born  1858,  was  a  native  of  this  county  and  sou 
of  J.  B.  and  Laura  (Russell)  Chapman.  He  was  educated  in  the 
public  schools  of  Vienna  and  the  Southern  Illinois  Normal;  engaged 
in  the  mercantile  business  in  Vienna  several  years.  After  retiring 
from  this  he  built  the  brick  business  building  on  the  corner  of  4th 
and  East  Vine,  where  he  conducted  a  hotel  a  number  of  years.  He 
also  built  several  residences  which  he  rented.  In  later  years  he  fol- 
lowed the  business  of  traveling  salesman.  He  died  in  the  prime  of 
life.  His  widow,  Ruth  (Madden)  is  a  native  of  this  county,  and  has 
lived  in  Vienna  most  all  her  life.  She  resides  with  her  daughter, 
Mrs.  G.  E.  Galeener,  is  a  faithful  member  of  the  M.  E.  Church  and 
has  belonged  to  that  organization  longer  than  any  of  the  present 
members,  except  Mrs.  Fanny  Jackson.  The  son,  F.  J.  Chapman,  Jr., 
is  a  business  man  of  New  York  City. 

J.  C.  Chapman,  son  of  D.  C.  and  Mary  (Rose)  Chapman  begann  his 
business  life  as  a  teacher,  was  for  some  time  engaged  in  the  mercan- 
tile business  at  Vienna,  but  later  settled  on  a  farm  just  west  of  the 
town.  He  has  served  the  county  as  Commissioner  and  takes  an  active 
interest  in  all  movements  for  the  betterment  of  the  farmer  and  com- 


356  A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 

munity.  He  married  Ann  Oliver  (see  Chapman).  Their  sons,  Dr. 
Oliver  D.,  James  C.  and  Joe  L.  served  in  the  World  War.  Joe  enlisted 
in  the  Air  service.  James  served  several  months  in  France  and 
Oliver  was  a  lieutenant  in  the  Vetrinary  Corps.  George  and  Mary 
reside  with  their  father,  the  mother  died  1924. 

COCHRAN 
The  Cochran  family  was  one  of  the  first  families  settling  here 
The  names  found  on  the  records  are  Adam,  Samuel,  Jesse,  Moses  and 
Andrew,  who  was  a  Commissioner  of  this  county  in  1821  and  drew 
a  salary  of  $82.33  for  his  services.  There  could  be  nothing  secured 
in  a  definite  line  of  these  families.  Carrol  Cochran,  the  Grandison, 
Harvick  family,  Thomas  and  Milton  Cochran,  residents  of  this  county 
are  descendants  of  this  family. 

CLYMER 
John  C.  Clymer  married  Sarah,  the  daughter  of  David 
and  Holly  Shires,  in  Maury  County,  Tennessee,  where  the  father  of 
John  C.  and  Joseph  had  moved  from  North  Carolina.  They  resided 
there  until  1854,  when  they  came  to  this  county,  settling  in  Grants- 
burg  Township.  John  C.  was  a  carpenter  and  worked  at  his  trade 
there  a  number  of  years,  later  removing  to  New  Burnside.  Their 
children  were  Martha  (2),  who  married  Gillford  Pippins  of  this  county 
and  had  Mary  Francis  (3)  and  David  (3).  David  (2)  was  killed  at  the 
battle  of  Fort  Donelson.  John  H.  (2)  married  Virgina  Garrett,  whose 
mother  was  a  daughter  of  Daniel  Cummins.  Their  children  weie 
Alice  (3),  Edward  (3),  Delia  (3),  Thomas  (3),  Charles  (3),  Walter 
(3),  Holly  (3).  Alice  (3)  married  John  Vander  Pluym;  their  chil- 
dren were  Lilly  (4),  who  resides  with  her  father  in  Vienna.  Nell  (4) 
married  Bluford  Heatherington  of  Harrisburg  and  has  James  (5), 
Bluford  (5),  Eugene  (5),  Carl  (5),  Ralph  (5)  and  Mary  Nell  (5). 
Cornelius  (4)  married  first  Beatrice  Abott  and  had  Kreigh  (5) ;  he 
married  second  Edna  Holland  and  they  have  Betty  Jane  (5)  and  re- 
side in  Harrisburg,  111.  Winifred  (4),  married  Dr.  Robert  McCall  and 
their  children  are  Virginia  (5),  Robbie  (5),  John  (5),  Thomas  (5). 
They  reside  in  Phoenix  Arizona.  Fay  (4)  married  Hudson  Hook 
and  has  Jack  (5),  Mary  Alice  (5),  they  live  in  Seattle,  Wash.  Edward 
(3)  married  Ida  Shearer  and  they  have  Ebert  (4),  who  is  a  physician 
of  Oklahoma  City,  he  married  Lou  Hachett,  and  has  Clarice  (5)  who 
married  Jay  Allie,  Ralph  (5),  Mary  Louise  (5)  and  Ruby  (5).  Delia 
(3)  married  Lucas  Parker;  their  children  are  Leo  (4),  who  married 
Cecil  Hadley,  and  has  Elaine  (5).  Donald  (4)  married  Helen  Arthaud 
and  has  Jack  (5).  Halloween  (4)  married  Ralph  Murray,  who  is  a 
teacher  in  the  schools  of  Oblong,  111;  they  have  J.  P.  (5)  and  Jerry 
(5).     Myra  June    (4),   a   teacher,   Hilda    (4)    and   Joe    (4)    in   school. 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY  357 

Thomas  (3)  married  Harriet  Stanley.  He  is  a  contractor  and  builder. 
Charles  (3)  not  married;  Walter  (3)  married  Genevieve  Harris  and 
their  children  are  Margaret  (4),  Hita  (4);  Holly  (3)  married  James 
Hight,  they  have  John  Milton  (4),  Mary  Louise  (4)  and  reside  in 
Tempe,  Arizona;  Holly  (2)  married  James  A.  Smith,  son  of  Jason  B. 
and  they  had  Eugene  (3),  Ethel  (3),  Clara  (3),  who  married  Adam 
Ballance  and  resides  in  the  west.  Another  branch  of  this  'family 
whose  head  was  Joseph  came  here  a  little  later.  He  was  a  brother 
of  John  C,  but  spelled  his  name  Clymore.  He  had  Daniel  (2),  John 
(2).  John  (2)  married  Alice  Redden  and  their  children  are  Arthur 
(3),  Charles  (3),  Alice  (3),  Martha  (3).  Arthur  (3)  married  Olivia 
Morgan,  they  had  Morris  (4),  Opal  (4),  Nora  (4),  Gertrude  (4), 
Morgan  (4).  Charles  (3)  served  as  postmaster  in  Vienna  under  Presi- 
dent Wilson.  He  married  Nellie  Wymore  and  their  children  are  Isabel 
(4),  Charleen  (4),  Charles  (4),  Bain  (4),  they  reside  in  Jacksonville, 
Fla.  Alice  (3)  married  William  Hight  and  has  Walton  (4).  Martha 
(3)  married  Edward  Grinnell  and  resides  in  Los  Angeles,  Calif. 
Daniel  (2)  married  Ella  Allbritton  and  had  Elmer  (3),  Effie  (3),  Pearl 
(3),  Joseph  (3),  Annis  (3),  Harris  (3),  Jessie  (3),  and  Adrian  (3). 
Elmer  (3)  married  Daisy  Farmer.  They  had  Bradley  (4);  Effie  (3) 
married  Mr.  Fowler  and  has  five  children;  Pearl  (3)  married  Guy 
Slack,  has  several  children  and  resides  in  Carbondale;  Joseph  (3) 
married  Audrey  Helm,  one  son,  Joseph  (4);  Annis  (3)  married  Levi 
Hand  and  has  one  son;  Harris  (3)  married  Althea  Hight  and  has  five 
children;  Jessie  (3)  married  Benjamin  Farmer  and  has  three  children; 
Adrain  (3)  married  Myrtle  Carlton  and  has  one  child. 

COPELAND 
William  Copeland  must  have  been  quite  old  when  he  came  to 
this  county  and  his  son,  John  was  doubtless  the  head  of  the  family.  He 
was  born  before  the  Revolutionary  War  and  he  was  not  the  oldest 
child.  William  Copeland,  judging  from  his  name  was  English.  His 
grandson,  Johua,  said  they  came  from  the  Isle  of  Wight  and  were 
Irish.  James  R.  Evers  who  married  a  granddaughter  remem- 
bers seeing  old  man  Johnny  Copeland,  as  he  was  called,  and  he  says 
he  was  Irish.  Be  that  as  it  may,  William  Copeland  lived  in  Virginia 
in  1771  and  no  doubt,  earlier,  but  whether  he  was  born  there  or 
emigrated  there  is  not  known.  There  is  a  Copeland  family  in  New 
England  which  came  there  about  1630,  but  whether  our  William  Cope- 
land was  connected  with  that  family  or  not  is  not  known.  His 
Revolutionary  War  record  and  the  settlement  of  his  estate  is  given 
in  other  chapters.  William  had  four  daughters;  two  married  Dials, 
one  married  Hobb  and  one  married  Robert  Little  who  kept  tavern  in 
Vienna  in   1820.      There    is    no   certain    knowledge   of   these    families 


358  A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


unless  David  Shearer  married  Mattie  (Copeland)  Dial's  daughter. 
There  was  a  son  named  Samuel  whom  tradition  says  went  to  Missouri 
or  Arkansas.  John  is  the  founder  of  the  family  tree  arranged  here. 
He  was  born  in  Virginia,  emmigrated  to  Tennessee  and  married 
there,  coming  to  this  county  in  1816.  He  was  a  farmer  also  an  early 
teacher  and  held  several  county  offices  and  was  active  in  the  promo- 
tion of  education  and  the  conveniences  of  a  frontier  community.  He 
moved  to  a  home  on  the  Ohio  River  about  1835,  which  location  later 
became  Massac  County.  He  died  1853.  John  Copeland  brought  six 
slaves  to  this  county,  a  man,  his  wife  and  four  children.  Tradition 
says  that  the  Copelands  went  first  to  Ohio  and  realizing  they  could 
not  hold  their  slaves  in  that  state,  they  came  to  Tennessee  and  later 
to  Illinois,  believing  this  would  be  a  slave  state.  William  Copeland's 
land  warrant  was  number  1696  for  200  acres  issued  for  services  in 
the  Virginia  Continental  line.  This  warrant  was  surveyed  for  Andrew 
Ellison  as  assignee  in  the  Virginia  Military  district  of  Ohio.  Three 
different  patents  were  issued,  one  in  1813,  another  1815  and  the  third 
in  j  820.  This  warrant  was  issued  Aug.  10,  1783.  John  Copeland  (1) 
was  born  in  Virginia,  Sept.  30,  1775,  nad  grew  to  manhood  in  his 
native  state.  They  removed  to  Tennessee,  where  he  married  Sarah 
Short,  who  was  born  Christmas  day  1778.  They  came  to  Illinois  1816; 
their  children  were  James  (2),  Sarah  (2),  Samuel  (2)  who  was  born 
1805,  William  (2),  John  (2),  Joshua  (2),  born  in  Tennessee  1812, 
Sumner  County,  Isaac  (2),  Jane  Gamble  (2)  born  1818,  Alfred  (2), 
Lousia  (2).  James  (2)  married  Elizabeth.  Sarah  (2)  married  John 
L.  Cooper  and  had  James  F.  (3),  born  1824,  Juliet  (3).  James  F. 
(3)  married  Mary  J.  Kitchell,  1846,  who  was  born  1825.  They  had 
children  Leora  Ellen  (4)  born  1846,  James  M.  (4),  born  1850,  Frank 
A.  (4)  born  1853.  Leora  Ellen  (4)  married  Thomas  Helm.  This 
family  moved  to  Beloit,  Kansas  many  years  ago.  Juliet  (4)  married 
Jackson  Yokum  and  had  two  sons,  they  lived  near  Grand  Chain, 
Pulaski  County.  Samuel  S.  (2)  married  Sarah  Allen  and  they  had 
Allen  (3),  Perry  (3),  Mary  (3),  Samuel  (3),  Richard  (3),  James  P. 
(3),  Dewitt  C.  (3).  Allen  (3)  married  Cynthia  Scroggins  in  1858  and 
left  one  son  who  lived  at  Cheery  Vale  Kansas.  Perry  (3)  married 
Sarah  M.  Wilcox  and  had  several  children,  no  history  of  but  four  of 
them,  namely  Jerome  (4),  Olive  (4),  Albert  (4)  and  Otto  Perry  (4). 
Jerome  (4)  married  Sarah  Belle  Grace  and  had  Edytha  (5),  Estella 
(5),  Elsie  (5)  and  Mary  Grace  (5).  Edytha  (4)  married  Thomas 
Snyder  and  had  Owal  (6),  and  May  Elsie  (6).  Elsie  (5)  married 
Arthur  Britt,  they  have  seven  children  and  reside  in  Pulaski  County. 
Mary  Grace  (5)  married  John  Carroll  of  Metropolis,  111.,  where  they 
reside.  Jerome  (4)  married  a  second  time  and  left  a  daughter,  Mrs. 
Edward   Morkert   who  resides   in   Johnston   City.     Olive    (4)    married 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY  359 


Charles  Wood  of  Joppa,  and  had  Jack  (5).  Albert  (4)  married  Anna 
Lenn.  Otto  P.  (4)  married  first  Anna  Waller  of  Villa  Ridge,  they 
had  three  sons.  He  removed  to  Arkansas  where  he  married  and  had 
three  daughters,  and  was  killed  in  an  automobile  accident  1923. 
Mary  (3)  married  Alexander  McClean.  Samuel  (3)  married  Miss 
Lard  and  had  two  children.  Richard  (3)  married  Nancy  Washburn 
and  had  children  Elmer  (4),  A.  Buel  (4),  Charles  (4),  Olive  (4),  May 
(4),  Allen  (4),  Carrie  (4),  Flo  (4).  Elmer  E.  (4)  married  Delia  Rimer 
and  their  children  are  Ruth  (5),  Paul  (5),  Esther  (5).  Ruth  married 
a  Mr.  Batson.  Buel  (4)  married  Martha  McCormick  and  had  Lam 
bert  (5)  and  Fritchie  (5).  Charles  (4)  married  Minty  Fulkerson, 
children  Hayward  (5),  Mildred  (5)  Ruby  (5),  Richard  (5).  Allen  (4) 
married  Lura  Jackson  and  has  Joseph  H.  (5),  Margaret  (5)  Carl  (5), 
and  Raymond  (5).  Olive  (4)  married  Charles  Thirkeld,  children, 
Albert  (5)  and  Halfrey  (5).  May  (4)  married  Aaron  H.  Muck  and 
has  Lucille  (5),  Majory  (5)  and  Velma  (5).  Carrie  L.  (4)  married 
J.  J.  Oneal.  James  J.  (3)  married  first  Louisa  Washburn  1865  and 
they  had  Benjamin  F.  (4)  who  married  and  died  leaving  one  son, 
James  B.  (5).  Addie  (4)  who  married  J.  M.  Strike  of  Wichita,  Kan., 
and  they  have  Clifford  S.  (5)  and  Jennie  T.  (5).  James  P.  (4)  married 
second  Mrs.  Minnie  (Boston)  Brooks  they  have  one  son,  John  Wallace 
of  Marion,  111.  Dewitt  C.  (3)  married  Miss  Kidd  and  they  had  children 
James  (4),  Gertrude  (4),  Harry  (4),  Mamie  (4),  Louisa  (4),  Delia 
(4),  May  (4).  Samuel  (2)  married  second  Mrs.  Lucinda  (Simpson) 
Fisher  and  had  Louisa  (3),  who  married  a  Mr.  Pierce  of  Baxter 
Springs,  Kan.  Alonzo  (3)  married  Mary  Utley  (4).  William  (2) 
married  Malinda  Allen  and  had  Benjamin  F.  (3)  born  1836  and  mar- 
ried Margaret  Leek  of  Massac  County.  They  had  Ishmael  (4), 
William  F.  (4)  Lena  (4),  Mary  L.  (4).  Ishmael  (4)  married  Emma 
and  has  Esther  (5),  Edna  (5),  Lela  (5)  and  John  (5).  W.  F.  (4) 
married  Ura  and  has  Bea  (5),  Egbert  (5),  Wilma  and  Warba  (5), 
William  (5).  Lena  (4)  married  Edward  Schmidt  and  they  have 
Bessie  (5),  Alvin  (5),  Ethel  (5),  Floyd  (5),  Earl  (5),  Mary  Evelyn  (5). 
Mary  L.  (4)  married  John  Borman  and  they  have  Sophia  (5)  and 
Mary  (5).  -John  (2)  married  Ann  Ward  1835  (who  was  born  1812) 
in  Alabama  and  they  had  John  Ward  (3),  Sarah  Ann  (3),  James  (3), 
William  P.  (3).  John  W.  (3)  married  Mary  J.  Smith  and  they  had 
Leora  May  (4),  who  married  Pleasant  T.  (see  Chapman).  Sarah  Ann 
(3)  married  Carrol  Utley  and  had  Mary  (4),  who  married  Alonzo 
Copeland  (3).  Sarah  A.  (3)  married  second  William  Mangum  and  has 
two  children  living,  William  (4)  who  lives  at  West  Frankfort  and 
Emma  Yates  who  lives  at  Walnut  Ridge,  Ark.  James  (3)  married 
Addie  Porter  of  Pulaski  County  and  they  had  William  (4)  who  mar- 
ried Nanny  Bartleson,  and  reside  in  Muskogee,  Okla.     David  (4)  mar 


360  A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


ried  Anna  Reese  and  they  have  Thomas  Vandiver  (5),  Robert  A. 
(5),  Leota  J.  (5)  Rachel  A.  (5),  Fred  R.  (5)  Samuel  V.  (5)  Jefferson  B. 
(5),  Mary  V.  (5)  Martha  K.  (5).  This  family  resides  in  Blithesville 
Ark.  James  (3)  married  second  Martha  and  had  children,  Bird  (4), 
May  (4)  and  several  others.  William  P.  (3)  married  first  Ellen  Bar- 
nett  and  they  had  Charles  (4),  who  married  Luella  Benton  and  died 
leaving  one  son  Ralph  Ward  (5).  William  (4);  William  P.  married 
second  Margaret  Gandy  and  they  had  Edward  (5)  who  married  Clara 
Dench  of  Golconda;  Elsie  (4)  at  home  and  Jackson  D.  (4)  who  mar- 
ried Lora  Threlkeld  and  they  have  Edward  (5).  Joshua  (2)  resided 
in  Massac  County,  served  that  county  as  judge  and  was  quite  active 
in  the  affairs  of  his  time.  He  married  first  Elizabeth,  daughter  of 
Robert  Axley  of  the  West  Eden  neighborhood,  and  they  had  Mary- 
Jane  (3)  born  1836,  Franklin  (3),  Samuel  L.  (3),  Melissa  (3),  Law 
rence  W.  (3),  Joshua  Allen  (3).  Mary  J.  (3)  married  John  Wright, 
1857  and  they  had  John  Franklin  (4)  born  1858,  William  Joshua  (4), 
Martha  E.  (4)  born  1862,  Melissa  Adelia  (4)  born  1865,  Clara  (4). 
J.  Frank  (4)  married  Omega  Woelfle  and  they  had  Effie  Gertrude  (5) 
who  married  Dr.  W.  A.  Sim  of  Golconda  and  their  children  were 
Sarah  Mary  (6)  born  1904,  William  F.  (6)  born  1907,  Wright  A.  (6) 
born  1909.  J.  Fred  (5)  married  Emma  (Hight)  Whiteaker  and  they 
have  Josylin  (6).  J.  Frank  (4)  married  second  Ivy  Hardy  and  died 
leaving  one  daughter,  Barbara  (5).  William  J.  (4)  married  first  Mary 
Rinehart,  they  had  Mary  (5)  who  married  Mr.  Broyle  of  Los  Angeles, 
California  and  had  May  (6)  who  married  Alfred  B.  Spires,  1924. 
William  J.  Jr.,  (5)  married  Lillian  Hogue  1914  and  has  Lillian  Jane 
(5).  William  J.  (4)  married  second  Ethel  Evers  (4).  Elizabeth  (4) 
married  W.  B.  Pritchett  1882  and  had  Vivian  (5)  who  married  Norman 
Casper  of  New  Burnside  this  county  and  they  have  Elizabeth  (6)  and 
Priscilla  (6).  Adelia  (5)  married  Charles  McAlister  of  Cairo,  111., 
and  they  have  Mary  June  (6)  and  William  Bradley  (6).  Adelia  (4) 
married  Lee  Head,  1882  and  had  Lelia  (5)  who  married  Thomas  W. 
Johnson,  1909.  Lelia  died  1918  leaving  Albert  Sidney  (6)  and  Helen 
Leland  (6).  They  reside  in  Newport,  Ark.  Clara  (4)  married  H.  C. 
Lentz,  1886  and  they  have  Junita  (5)  who  married  Dr.  Crowl  of 
Anna,  and  Frederick  (5),  who  married  Gladys  Styer  of  Anna,  and  they 
had  Emily  Diana  (6).  Franklin  (3)  married  Rella  Evers  and  had 
Frank  (4).  Samuel  L.  (3)  married  Margaret  Beal,  1866  and  they  had 
Donnie  May  (4)  and  Samuel  (4).  Donnie  May  (4)  married  Arthur 
G.  Jackson  and  they  have  Arthur  C.  (5),  Margaret  Crary  (5)  and 
Samuel  Marion  (5).  Arthur  C.  (5)  married  Marie  Rosenbaum  and  has 
Arthur  C.  Jr.  (6).  Margaret  Crary  (5)  married  Charles  Foster  of 
Fort  Worth,  Texas  and  has  Charles  W.  (6)  and  Jack  (6).  Samuel 
(4)  married  Julia  Coleman  and  had  Eugene  (5)  and  Samuel   (5),  both 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY  361 


oi  whom  served  in  the  World  War;  Samuel  (5)  in  the  6th  Marines 
and  was  killed  near  Soisoms,  France,  July  19,  1918.  Melissa  (3)  mar- 
ried John  Bartleson.  Mr.  Bartleson  is  now  a  resident  of  Beloit, 
Kan.  Lawrence  W.  (3)  born  1847,  married  Laura  Hitchcock,  1867, 
and  they  had  Belle  (4),  John  L.  (4),  Estella  May  (4),  Ernest  (4), 
Agustus  (4),  Tony  (4),  Hilda  (4).  Belle  (4)  married  John  Shipman 
and  they  have  Rossie  Gray  (5),  Ernest  Rhea  (5),  Gladys  (5),  Halfred 
Lee  (5),  Bessie  (5).  Rossie  G.  (5)  married  Lillian  Marlin  and  has 
John  Marlin  (6).  John  L.  (4)  married  and  died  in  Little  Rock,  Ark., 
1922.  Samuel  (4)  married  and  died  in  early  manhood.  Estella  May 
lives  in  the  old  home  with  Hilda.  Ernest  P.  (4)  married  Mamie 
Steincamp.  Agustus  (4)  married  Nona  Henderson,  they  had  Dorthy 
May  (5).  Agustus  (4)  married  second  Delia  Wilson,  they  reside  at 
Little  Rock,  Ark.  Tony  (4)  married  Walter  Moreland;  Hilda  (4) 
married  Lester  Daily,  they  have  Dorothy  (5). 

Most  of  this  family  lives  in  Metropolis.  Joshu  (2)  married  second 
Caroline  Evers  and  they  had  Elizabeth  (3),  Ella  (3),  Mattie  (3), 
Margaret  (3),  Charles  (3),  Alice  (3),  Sally  S.  (3).  Elizabeth  (3) 
married  Thomas  Starkes  and  they  had  Howard  (4),  who  married 
Clara  Taylor  and  has  Ida  Elizabeth  (5).  Garfield  (4)  married  Maud 
Little  and  has  Gwendolyn  (5)  and  Maried  (5).  Roxie  (4)  married 
Elva  Alexander  and  they  have  Clesis  (5)  and  Charles  William  (5). 
Pearl  (4)  married  Clarence  Jacobs  and  they  have  Alton  (5)  and  Irene 
(5).  Alma  (4)  married  Perry  Little  and  has  Harold  (5)  and  Gerald 
(5).  Ruth  (4)  married  Wilburn  Trumbo  and  has  Forest  (5).  Susie 
(4)  married  Roy  Barnett  and  has  Roy  Jr.  (5).  Ella  (3)  married 
William  Douglas  and  has  Eva  Leota,  (4),  who  married  Charles  Smith 
and  has  Orion  G.  (5),  William  G.  (5)  and  Bessie  Ellen  (5).  Aubry 
(4)  married  Elizabeth  Bunch,  has  Lester  (5),  Roy  (5),  Velma  May  (5) 
John  Fred  (5)  and  Helen  M.  (5).  Charles  (4)  married  Ethel  Sexton 
and  has  lone  (5),  Charles  R.  (5)  and  Homer  S.  (5).  Claude  (4) 
married  Birdie  Bunch  and  has  Delphia  (5),  Clyde  (5),  Raymond  (5) 
and  Lillian  (5).  William  Arthur  (4)  and  J.  Fred  (4)  are  not  married. 
Mattie  (3)  married  first  James  McNanna  and  had  Joshua  (4),  who 
married  Clara  Bivins  and  they  have  Joshua,  Jr.  (5).  Paul  (4)  not 
married.  Mattie  (3)  married  second  Edward  Cockrel.  Maggie  (3) 
married  William  W.  Clark  and  they  have  Ida  (4)  who  married  Gifford 
E.  Landon  and  they  have  Naomi  (5),  Thelma  (5)  and  live  near  Han- 
ford.  Charles  H.  (4)  married  Mary  G.  Nelson  and  they  have  Mel- 
burn  Lee  (5).  He  served  in  the  World  War,  being  in  France  four- 
teen months,  was  wounded  and  decorated.  They  reside  in  Fresno. 
Delphia  (4)  married  Arthur  J.  Platzik,  who  served  in  the  United 
States  Navy  during  the  World  War.  They  have  Max  W.  (5),  Robert 
J.    (5)   and  reside  at  Taft.     Mrs.   Clark   and  her  family   live   in   Cali- 


362  A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


lornia.  Charles  (3)  married  Ella  Mangum  and  had  Gladys  (4)  who 
married  John  Hottel  and  has  Carl  (5)  and  Iva  (5).  Allie  (3)  married 
Mitt  Barnett  and  they  have  Dwight  (4)  who  married  Else  Gray  and 
their  children  are  Lana  (5)  and  Doris  (5).  Leslie  (4),  Nellie  (4) 
and  Caroline  (4)  at  home.  Sally  S.  (3)  married  Jesse  Hawkins  and 
they  have  Ralph  (4)  who  married  Mariah  Starks  and  their  children 
are  Louis  (5),  Lola  May  (5),  Bernice  (5),  Robert  (5).  May  (4)  is 
a  teacher  and  makes  her  home  with  her  parents.  Isaac  (2) 
married  Elanor  Gore  and  their  children  were  Crynthia  (J) 
born  1837,  John  M.  (3)  born  1839,  Sarah  E.  (3)  born  1842, 
Mary  M.  (3)  born  1846,  Caroline  (3)  born  1849.  Crynthia  (3)  married 
A.  J.  Axley  (see  West).  Crynthia  J.  (3)  married  second  Samuel 
Norval,  and  had  Mary  (4)  (Gussie)  who  married  Mr.  McLean  and 
had  Clyde  (5),  Clarence  (5),  Floyd  (5)  and  Lawrence  (5).  Margaret 
(4)  married  Mr.  Carnahan.  These  two  families  reside  in  Portland, 
Oregon.  John  M.  (3)  served  in  the  Civil  War,  in  the  14th  Cav., 
from  Johnson  County.  He  married  Mary  A.  Rutledge,  niece  to  Ann, 
and  they  have  Mary  Iva  (4)  who  married  Oscar  Deans,  a  native  of 
this  county  and  they  have  Mary  Jane  (5).  Sarah  E.  (3)  married  W. 
H.  Walker,  about  1861,  and  removed  to  Kansas,  1869;  they  had 
Belle  (4)  who  married  Mr.  Brewer,  Dora  (4)  married  Mr.  Cooley; 
Arthur  (4)  lives  in  California.  Mary  M.  (3)  married  H.  H.  Spaulding 
1866  in  Kansas,  where  they  lived  many  years,  later  moving  to  Port- 
land, Oregon,  where  she  still  resides  (1924)  and  they  had  Addie  (4^, 
Lillian  B.  (4),  Arlett  C.  (4),  William  (4),  Lawrence  (4).  Addie  (4) 
married  Mr.  Hostetler  and  had  Nellie  (5)  who  is  a  trained  nurse 
residing  in  New  York  City  and  Lou  (5)  who  married  Clarence  Mar- 
row and  they  have  Edith  (6)  and  also  reside  in  New  York  City. 
Lillian  B.  (4)  married  Alvin  Giger,  children  Roscoe  (5)  who  married 
Mary  Neal  and  has  Richard  (6).  Charlotte  (5)  married  John  Fisher 
and  has  Eugene  (6).  Arlett  C.  (4)  married  May  Burchum  and  has 
Harold  (6).  William  (4)  married  Ettie  Rich  and  has  Vida  (5). 
Lawrence  (4)  married  Bertha  Pogue.  Caroline  (3)  married  A.  H. 
Spaulding  and  had  Maud  (4),  Elmer  (4),  Frank  (4)  George  (4). 
Maud  (4)  married  Seymore  Haynes,  and  lives  in  Los  Angeles,  Calif., 
Ihe  sons  all  live  in  the  West. 

Jane  Gamble  (2)  born  1838,  married  Joel  Braxton  Mabry  born  1809 
and  they  had  James  Copeland  (3),  Robert  Smith  (3)  born  1843,  John 
Quincy  (3)  born  1845,  William  Duddley  (3)  born  1848,  Sarah  Rebecca 
(3)  born  1855.  James  C.  (3)  married  Lavinnia  Sage,  1857,  they  had 
Susie  Jane  (4)  born  1860,  Lola  May  (4)  born  1863,  John  C.  (4)  born 
1866.  Robert  S.  (3)  killed  at  Fort  Donelson,  1862.  John  Q.  (3)  mar- 
ried Sarah  A.  Sage,  1864  and  had  Eula  B.  (4)  born  1868  who  married 
Frank   Trunkey,   1894   and   had    Marjory    (5)    born    1896,   Neil   Francis 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY  363 


(5)  born  1899,  Elizabeth  (5)  born  1907.  John  Q.  (3)  married  second 
Sarah  E.  Fuller  1874  and  had  Maud  E.  (4),  Estella  (4),  Clarence  E. 
married  W.  B.  Pritchett  1882  and  had  Vivian  (5)  who  married  Norman 
(4),  Elmer  D.  (4),  Robert  B.  (4).  Maude  E.  (4)  married  John 
Mahoney,  1898  and  had  Harrison  (5)  born  1899,  Aithia  (5)  born  1903, 
and  Eva  (5)  born  1908.  Estella  M.  (4)  married  Frederick  Minney 
1907  and  had  Berkeley  B.  (5)  born  1909.  Clarence  E.  (4)  married 
Laura,  they  had  Elizabeth  (5),  born  1911.  W.  Dudley  (3) 
was  an  M.  E.  minister  and  married  Irene  Dutton,  1870  and  they  had 
William  Carrey  (4)  born  1871,  Pearl  (4)  born  1883.  William  C.  (4* 
married  Bessie  Mayne  1903  and  had  Jenett  (5)  born  1913,  Elizabeth 
(5)  born  1916.  Pearl  (4)  married  Lieut.  C.  Smith,  married  1903. 
Sarah  Rebecca  (3)  married  P.  D.  Witzel  1870,  and  had  Frank  R.  (4) 
born  1871  who  married  May  Bowman  1899,  Niel  B.  (4)  who  married 
Amoral  Dennis  and  they  had  Valaski  (5)  born  1913,  Suel  (5)  born 
1915. 

Alfred  (2)  married  Catherine  Elkins  1844  and  they  had  Sarah 
Elizabeth  (3)  born  1845,  Charlotte  Temple  (3),  Louise  (3),  Martha 
(3),  Sarah  E.  married  Frank  Hitchcock,  1863  and  had  children  Ida  F 
(4)  born  1874,  Louis  G.  (4)  born  1882,  Myrtle  (4).  Ida  F.  (4)  married 
W.  J.  Mathis  1894  and  they  have  Louis  (5),  Virgie  (5)  Herbert  (5), 
Nina  (5),  Bernice  (5)  and  Royal  (5).  Lewis  (5)  married  Madge 
Evers  and  has  Paul  (6)  and  Ray  (6).  Virgie  (5)  married  Ralph 
White  and  has  William  (6)  and  James  Marion  (6).  Myrtle  (4)  mar 
ried  Albert  Evers  1896  and  they  had  Eunice  M.  (5)  born  1902.  Myrtle 
(4)  married  second  John  Hillie  and  has  two  children,  Lewis  G.  (4) 
married  Iona  B.  Reed  1901  and  has  Letha  Vera  (5)  born  1903,  Lewis 
Clyde  (5)  born  1905,  Madge  Lorene  (5)  born  1908,  Francis  Reed  (5) 
born  1910,  Milfred  G.  (5)  born  1915.  Charlotte  T.  (3)  married  James 
R.  Evers  1866  and  they  had  William  F.  (4)  born  1866,  Elizabeth  C. 
(4)  born  1870,  John  R.  (4)  born  1874,  Rollo  P.  (4)  born  1876,  Adolph 
L.  (4)  born  1880,  Maud  L  (4)  born  1882,  James  Hallie  (4)  born  1889. 
William  F.  (4)  married  Mary  Greer  and  had  Donabelle  (5)  who  mar- 
ried Ernest  Smith  and  has  Francis  W.  (6),  Mary  E.  (6).  William 
F.  (4)  married  second  Sally  Morgan  and  they  had  Fern  (5),  James 
W.  (5),  Charles  C.  (5),  Albert  (5)  and  John  (5).  Fern  (5)  married 
Lee  Price  and  had  Henry  T.  (6)  born  1913,  Elizabeth  C.  (4)  married 
Dr.  A.  W.  Tarr,  1901.  John  R.  (4)  married  Ida  Burns  1894  and  had 
Paul  (5),  Seth  (5),  Vivian  (5),  Madge  (5).  Seth  (5)  married  Silva 
Snell  and  they  have  Charles  R.  (6)  born  1916.  Madge  (5)  married 
Louie  Mathis  (5),  1917  and  has  Paul  W.  (6).  John  R.  (4)  married 
second  Ivo  Rhymer,  1918.  Rollo  P.  (4)  married  Elizabeth  E.  Johnson, 
1900.  Adolphus  L  (4)  married  Merlia  Morgan,  1920  and  the  have 
Rudell   (5).     James  H.   (4)  married  Neoma  Hammond,  1906  and  their 


364  A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


children  are  Willard  O.  born  1908.  James  Hallie  (4)  married  second 
Ettie  Davis,  1917.  Louise  (3)  married  Enoch  Anderson  and  had 
Sidney  (4).  Martha  (3)  married  George  Evers  1871,  and  had  Clara 
(4),  Charles  (4),  Ethel  (4).  Clara  (4)  married  Charles  Marshall  of 
Belknap  and  they  have  William  (5).  Charles  (4)  married  Lilly 
Williams  and  has  Nell  (5)  who  married  Chris  Weis,  and  Samuel  (5) 
and  Owen  (5).  Ethel  (4)  married  W.  J.  Wright  (4)  of  Dongola 
Alfred  (2)  married  second  Elizabeth  Ramey  and  had  Virginia  (3) 
and  Olive  (3).    The  widow  and  children  removed  to  Texas,  years  ago. 

Louisa  (2)   married  Jackson  Simpson   (see  Simpson). 

James  P.  Copeland,  the  son  of  Judge  Samuel  and  Sarah  Allen 
Copeland  was  born  in  Vienna,  111.,  1845.  He  was  a  descendant  of 
John,  who  came  to  this  county  in  territorial  days.  He  was  educated 
in  the  public  schools  and  when  a  mere  boy,  entered  a  newspaper 
office  in  Anna,  111.  when  only  seventeen  years  old  he  enlisted  in 
Company  E,  60th  Illinois  Infantry,  1862.  This  regiment  was  attached 
to  General  Pope's  command,  and  took  part  in  the  battles  of  Corinth, 
Lookout  Mountain,  Missionary  Ridge,  Kennesaw  Mountain,  Marietta, 
Peach  Tree  Creek,  and  many  others.  He  enlisted  as  a  private,  and 
was  honorably  discharged  as  a  Lieutenant  at  the  close  of  the  war. 
He  applied  himself  to  gain  further  education  and  a  little  later,  again 
took  up  the  newspaper  work,  which  he  followed  for  sometime  in  this 
county.  In  1874  he  went  to  Marion,  111.,  as  editor  of  the  Marion 
Monitor,"  one  of  Marion's  early  journals.  He  was  also  connected 
with  the  "Marion  Leader,"  and  other  papers  of  that  town.  He  re- 
tired from  the  newspaper  work  in  1901  and  conducted  a  florist  busi- 
ness for  sometime  before  his  death.  Mr.  Copeland  was  first  married 
to  Louisa  Washburn,  1865  at  Vienna,  (see  Copeland.)  He  was  a 
member  of  the  M.  E.  Church  of  Marion.  He  took  an  active  interest 
in  the  church  and  all  movements,  for  the  improvement  of  the  city 
and  people  where  he  lived  and  was  always  found  at  his  post  of  duty. 
He  died  in  the  year  1914. 

COWAN 

Thomas  J.  Cowan,  Sr.  was  born  in  Henry  County,  Tennessee, 
1823.  He  came  to  this  state  in  1851  and  was  for  many  years  one 
of  the  first  class  farmers  of  Bloomfield  Township.  He  married  first 
Mary  Clayton,  she  died  leaving  one  daughter,  who  is  now  Mrs.  Nanny 
Waters  of  Bloomfield.  Mr.  Cowan  married  second  Mary  J.  (see 
Worley.)  D.  J.  Cowan,  son  of  Thomas  J.  was  born  in  this  county, 
is  a  graduate  of  the  Southern  Illinois  Normal  and  Bloomington  Law 
School.  He  began  his  career  as  a  teacher  in  this  community,  later 
entering  the  profession  of  law  and  was  twice  elected  States  Attorney 
for  this  county.  He  established  a  practice  in  Peoria,  this  state,  1910, 
where  he  has  continued  as  a  successful  member  of  the  firm  of  Mans- 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY  365 

field  and  Cowan.  He  married  Mrs.  Sarah  (Duncan)  Poor.  Thomas 
J.  Cowan,  Jr.,  son  of  T.  J.  is  a  leading  farmer  of  this  county  residing 
lour  miles  east  of  Vienna  on  the  Metropolis  road.  For  family  (see 
Farris.)  J.  O.  Cowan,  another  son  of  T.  J.  and  a  native  of  this 
county  has  been  in  active  practice  of  law  in  Vienna  since  1913.  He 
is  a  graduate  of  Vienna  High  School  and  the  Chicago  School  of  Law. 
He  has  been  twice  elected  to  the  office  of  County  Judge,  which  posi- 
tion he  fills  at  present.  He  resides  with  his  mother  at  the  county 
seat. 

CRUM 

John  S.  Crum  was  a  native  of  Cambria  County,  Pa.,  and  was 
born  Sept.  9,  1836.  He  received  his  education  in  his  native  county, 
and  came  with  his  parents  to  Missouri,  when  a  young  man,  and  in 
1858  came  to  Illinois.  He  enlisted  in  Company  D.,  31st  Illinois  Vol- 
unteer Infantry,  Aug.,  1861,  commanded  by  Col.  John  A.  Logan,  and 
served  with  this  regiment  about  a  year,  when  he  was  discharged  on 
account  of  disability,  from  wounds  received  in  the  battle  of  Ft.  Donel- 
son.  He  returned  to  Vienna  and  was  appointed  Postmaster,  which 
place  he  filled  till  the  Fall  of  1864,  when  he  was  elected  circuit  clerk. 
He  served  in  this  office  twelve  years,  having  been  elected  three  suc- 
cessive terms.  He  also  served  the  state  as  a  member  of  the  State 
Board  of  Equalization,  and  the  county  two  terms  as  Commissioner 
While  acting  as  circuit  clerk  he  compiled  a  complete  set  of  abstract 
of  land  titles  of  the  county,  and  after  his  retirement  from  office  con- 
tinued the  abstract  business  till  his  death  which  occured  1895.  Mr. 
Crum  was  married  three  times,  first  to  Edna  E.  Smith  of  Bollingei, 
Mo.  and  they  had  Letitia  (2),  who  married  J.  E.  Hunsaker,  Don  (3), 
is  their  son.  He  married  Gale  Cook  of  Anna,  111.,  and  they  have 
Francis  (4).  Sherman  (2)  was  a  business  man  of  Vienna  for  some- 
time. He  married  Lina  Stubblefield,  who  died  leaving  two  sons,  and 
a  daughter.  Sherman  removed  a  few  years  ago  with  his  family  to 
California.  Alice  C.  (2)  married  James  Looney,  she  died  young  leav- 
ing two  children.  Mr.  Crum's  next  marriage  was  to  Carmelia  Boy>, 
of  this  county.  Ulysess  G.  and  Dolly  were  their  children.  Dolly 
married  Joseph  Farris  and  Ulysess  G.  married  Dora  Jennings.  Both 
families  removed  to  Missouri,  where  Ulysess  and  Dolly  died,  the 
former  leaving  one  son.  His  third  wife  was  Barbara  Toppas  of 
Johnson  County. 

CUMMINS 

Cummins  is  the  name  of  at  least  three  families  in  Johnson  County 
and  all  trace  their  ancestry  to  Kentucky,  and  are  of  Welch  descent. 
Peter,  Thomas,  and  Samuel  A.  were  the  three  brothers.  Peter  is  the 
head  of  one  family;  his  children  were  Daniel  T.  (2)  born  in  Kentucky, 
1822,  Amanda  (2),  George   (2),  Samuel  C.   (2),  Betty  Ann  (2),  Willis 


366  A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


(2),  Jerry  (2)  and  Alexander  (2).  Daniel  T.  (2)  settled  near  Reeves- 
ville  sometime  in  the  fifties,  riding  horseback,  to  Shawneetown  to 
enter  his  land.  He  married  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Jason  B.  Smith, 
and  their  children  were  Mary  Ann  (3),  Martha  Jane  (3),  Thomas  N 
(3),  William  F.  (3),  Jerry  S.  (3),  J.  Wesley  (3),  Jason  B.  (3),  Lewis 
G.  (3),  Henry  M.  (3),  J.  P.  (3).  Mary  Ann  (3)  married  James  (see 
Marberry).  Martha  Jane  (3)  married  F.  M.  Fisher  and  their  children 
were  Airy  (4)  who  married  Joel  McClanahan.  Robert  (4)  is  a  dentist 
of  Chicago.  Myrtle  (4)  married  Alfred  Ridenhower.  Joseph  A.  (4) 
married  Lily  Poor  and  is  a  physician  of  Metropolois.  Ruby  (4) 
married  Hary  Cummins  and  Norma  (4)  married  Mr.  Purtel.  Thomas 
N.  (3)  married  Anna  Rowland.  William  F.  (3)  married  Sarah 
Williams.  Jerry  S.  (3)  married  Nancy  Rice.  J.  Wesley  (3)  married 
Kate  Key.     Jason  B.   (3)  married  Emma  Kirk.     Louis  G.   (3)  married 

Jennie  Henry  M.  (3)  married  Maud  Dickerson.     J.  P.  (3) 

married  Helen  Upchurch.  This  branch  of  the  Cummins  family  was 
an  unusual  one,  the  parents  were  devout  Methodists  and  lived  their 
religion  in  their  home;  Mrs.  Cummins  joined  the  church  when  she 
was  nine  years  old.  She  has  the  distinction  of  being  the  mother  of 
more  ministers  than  any  other  woman  in  the  county,  state  or  United 
States,  so  far  as  is  known.  She  has  five  sons  who  are  Methodist 
ministers  and  all  her  Children  are  exemplary  Christian  citizens.  This 
family  held  a  reunion  in  1907  and  there  were  present  ten  children, 
thirty-five  grandchildren  and  three  great  grandchildren.  The  mother 
and  her  ten  children  spent  the  night  together  in  the  old  home.  The 
other  guests  finding  entertainment  elsewhere.  The  mother  and  father 
have  gone  on  years  ago  but  the  influence  of  their  life  is  being  broad- 
casted in  many  communities  far  from  their  humble  home. 

Amanda  (2)  married  Thomas  Garrett  and  their  children  were 
Virginia  (3)  who  married  John  H.  (see  Clymer).  Missouri  (3)  mar- 
ried Wiley  F.  (see  Marberry).  John  (3)  married  Nora  Harris  and 
they  had  William  Monroe  (4)  who  married  Mary  Martin,  they  had 
Luella  (5)  who  married  Rilley  Murray.  John  H.  (4)  removed  to 
Texas.  George  (4)  married  Sadie  Perry.  James  B.  (4)  married 
Edrice  Pippins.  Edward  (4)  married  Pearl  Kerley.  Lannie  (4)  mar- 
ried Tine  Phillips.  Lewis  (4)  married  Ruby  Bowman.  Most  of  this 
family  have  moved  out  of  the  county.  George  (2)  married  Elvira 
Gregg,  and  they  had  George  (3)  who  married  Sula  Homer  and  had 
Pender  (4)  who  married  Ruth  Hood  of  Vienna;  they  have  Mary 
Louise  (5).  They  have  recently  gone  as  missionaries  to  Upper  Bur- 
man,  India  (1923).  Pearl  (4),  Grace  (4)  Ruth  (4)  Jennie  (4).  This 
family  removed  to  the  West.  William  (3)  married  Melissa  Jackson. 
Samuel  C.  (2)  married  Francis  Arington  and  their  children  were 
George    (3)   who  married  Alice  Harris,   they  had   Otis    (4),   Opie    (4) 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY  367 


who  married  Edward  Nix.  Debby  Ann  (2)  married  Charles  Holmes. 
Willis  (2)  married  Queen  Gregg.  Jerry  (2)  married  Lizzie  Gramtham 
and  had  Belle  (3)  who  married  William  Lane;  Joseph  (3),  Anna  (3) 
who  married  Dr.  Wroodside.  Alexander  (2)  married  Missouri  Harris 
and  their  children  were  Lida  (3),  who  married  Foster.  James  (3) 
married  Dora  Chapman  and  had  Tullis  (4);  he  married  second  Dora 
Gillespie  and  had  Eva  (4)  and  Nell  (4). 

Samuel  A.  Cummins  was  a  brother  to  Thomas  and  Peter  and 
came  to  this  county  from  Kentucky,  in  company  with  other  families, 
on  a  flat  boat,  sometime  in  1845,  living  a  while  in  Pope  County. 
Samuel  A.  (1)  married  Lucy  Ann  Hard  and  they  had  Sophie  (2)  who 
married  James  Helm  and  lives  in  Samoth.  Peter  A.  (2)  resides  near 
Reevesville.  Deborah  (2)  married  John  Kelton  of  Paducah.  Arminta 
(2)  married  Richard  Boyles  of  Samoth.  Idora  (2)  married  Robert 
Knuckles  of  Metropolis.  John  L.  (2)  is  a  farmer  of  this  county  and 
married  Sarah  Griffith  and  their  children  are  Ora  (3),  Idora  Belle  (3) 
Lucy  Ann  (3).  Thomas  (1)  the  other  brother  married  Madaline 
Gregg,  and  their  children  were  Belle  (2)  and  Clayton  (2).  Belle  (2) 
married  Joseph  Hale;  they  live  near  Bloomfield.  Their  children  were 
Robert  A.  (3),  May  (3),  Offie  (3)  Roscoe  (3),  R.  A.  (3)  was  a  phy- 
sician of  this  county  practicing  in  the  Bloomfield  community  where 
he  resided.  He  was  a  graduate  of  Barnes  Medical  School  of  St.  Louis, 
Mo.,  and  died  when  comparatively  a  young  man.  He  married  first 
Mary  Cowan,  who  died  without  children;  second  Maud,  daughter 
of  D.  F.  Beauman.  They  had  Joseph  (4),  Caroline  (4),  Robert  (4). 
Mrs.  Hale  removed  to  Centralia,  111.  May  (3)  married  Obe  Dunn  and 
has  Chatty  (4),  Eva  (4),  Herschel  (4).  Chatty  (4)  married  J.  Gurley 
and  has  Herbert  (5).  Clayton  (2)  married  Alice  Porter  and  they  had 
Elza  (3)  who  served  in  the  World  War  and  died  while  in  training  in 
Colorado.  Lula  (3)  married  Giles  Taylor.  John  (3)  married  Stella 
Kincannon;  Earl  (3)  and  Arle  (3). 

DAMRON 
Charles  Damron,  an  old  resident  of  this  county,  was  born  in 
Kentucky,  his  father  was  Wilson  Damron,  who  was  a  native  of 
Virginia.  Wilson  was  a  contemporary  of  Daniel  Boone.  He  later 
removed  to  that  section  of  the  northwest  territory  that  made  Illinois. 
He  was  in  the  employ  of  a  fur  company,  and  at  one  time  made  ex- 
plorations in  the  Yellowstone  River  country.  He  spent  his  last  days 
near  Springfield,  Mo.  The  maiden  name  of  his  wife  was  McLane. 
Charles  the  (1)  came  with  his  parents  to  this  state,  and  while 
living  in  Saline  County,  1818,  voted  for  the  adoption  of  the  first 
constitution.  After  his  marriage  to  Mary  Carson,  he  removed  to 
Weakly   County,  Tenn,  where  he  resided  until   1852,   when  he  again 


368  A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


came  to  Illinois  and  settled  in  Tunnel  Hill  Township  on  the  farm 
now  owned  by  John  Bonar,  where  he  lived  till  his  death,  1878.  He 
was  known  for  his  good  deeds.  The  children  were  J.  M.  C.  (2), 
Saml.  (2),  Norval  (2),  James  (2),  Mary  (2),  Mexico  (2),  Jane  (2),  Dru- 
cilla  (2),  Almus  (2).  Dr.  J.  M.  C.  (2)  received  his  early  education  in 
select  schools  of  Tennessee.  He  began  teaching  in  Williamson  County 
this  state  at  the  age  of  21,  having  taught  in  one  school  five  successive 
terms.  In  the  meantime  reading  medicine  as  it  was  called.  It  was 
not  necessary  at  that  time  to  have  a  diploma  before  one  began  the 
practice  of  medicine  in  this  state.  Dr.  Damron  attended  Rush  Medical 
College,  Chicago,  1854-55,  and  began  his  medical  career  in  Saline 
County,  1855,  removing  the  same  year  to  Vienna.  He  returned  to 
Rcsh  Medical,  and  graduated  with  the  class  of  1860.  He  was  well 
known  and  a  well  liked  physican,  and  traveled  over  the  rough  roads 
of  this  county,  many  years,  also  engaging  at  different  times  in  the 
drug  business.  He  was  a  mason,  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church,  and  a  Democrat  in  politics.  He  died  in  1911.  Dr.  Damron 
(2)  was  born  in  Tennessee,  1824,  married  Elizabeth  Buckner,  1850 
and  they  had  one  son,  Leonidas  (3)  who  is  now,  if  living  a  farmer  in 
Missouri.  Dr.  Damron  (2)  married  second  Adeline  Standard  1855, 
and  their  children  were  John  Franklin  (3),  who  died  about  1915, 
leaving  no  children,  Emma  (3),  married  Dennis  Wilson  of  Cape 
Girardeau,  Mo.  and  had  several  children,  but  the  name  of  only  one, 
Owna  (3),  is  known.  Mollie  (3)  married  T.  G.  Johnson  of  this  county, 
who  died  quite  young  leaving  Essie  (4),  Eva  (4)  and  Damron  (4). 
The  children  with  their  mother  moved  to  St.  Louis,  Mo.  Jennie  (3) 
was  a  resident  of  New  York  City  in  1908.  Lucy  (3)  married  Clinton 
Shearer  of  New  Buprnside,  and  removed  to  Oklahoma  where  she  died 
1920,  leaving  a  daughter,  Mrs.  E.  S.  Rardin  (4)  of  Oklahoma  City, 
Okla.,  who  has  Clinton  (5)  and  Paul  (5).  Agusta  (3)  married  Fred 
Tate  of  Hardin  County,  and  had  Lucille  (4).  Mr.  Tate  served  in  the 
Spanish  War  and  died  soon  after  its  close.  Agusta  (2)  was  a  resident 
of  Washington,  D.  C.  in  1909.  Charles  Norval  (2)  was  born  about 
1840.  He  began  his  career  as  a  teacher,  later  studying  law  which 
profession  he  followed  with  success  in  this  section  for  many  yeais. 
He  was  at  one  time  Circuit  Attorney  of  this  district,  and  traveled 
the  circuit  with  the  Judge,  taking  care  of  all  the  state  cases.  He 
later  served  as  States  Attorney  of  this  county  and  also  as  Judge. 
He  was  a  Lieutenant  in  Company  K.,  120th  Illinois  Volunteer  of  the 
Civil  War.  He  married  Mary,  daughter  of  Martin  Harvick,  first 
settler.  The  family  moved  to  San  Bernardino,  Calif,  about  1881.  The 
children  were  Cass  (3)  who  died  in  California  leaving  two  daughters. 
Flora  (3)  married  Charles  Dunscomb  of  Bethany,  111.  They  now  re- 
side in  Berkeley,  Calif.,  where  Mr.  Dunscomb  is  owner  and  publisher 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY  369 


of  the"Berkeley  Gazette."  Mrs.  Damron  is  still  living  and  a  resident 
of  San  Bernardino.  Judge  Damron  died  about  1815.  Mexico  (2)  mar- 
ried John  Graves  and  had  William  (3)  and  Mexico  (3).  William  (3) 
married  Arista  Rose,  has  Charles  (4)  and  resides  in  Ft.  Collins, 
Colo.  Mexico  (3)  married  Thomas  Helms  and  had  Audrey  (4)  who 
married  Joseph   (see  Clymore). 

James  W.  (2)  was  a  farmer  of  Grantsburg  Township.  He  was 
elected  assessor  and  treasurer  for  the  county  serving  one  term.  He 
removed  with  his  family  to  Puxico,  Mo.,  about  1900.  He  was  a 
Presbyterian,  a  mason  and  a  member  of  the  Peoples  Party.  He 
married  Sidney  Rose  and  had  Catherine  (3),  who  married  James 
Fleming  and  died  leaving  Clyde  (4)  who  is  a  resident  of  Detroit, 
Mich.  Charles  P.  (3)  married  Myrtle  Swain  and  their  children  are 
Louise  (4),  Helen  (4),  and  Catherine  (4).  This  family  resides  at 
Fredericktown,  Mo.  Charles  is  a  lawyer  and  has  represented  his 
district  in  the  State  Legislature.  One  son,  Herschel  and  two  daugh- 
ters, Libby  and  Maude  of  J.  W.  and  Sidney's  family,  died  after  they 
were  grown.  Alumus  (3)  is  a  successful  business  man  of  Puxico, 
Mo.  He  married  there  and  has  two  children.  Samuel  Damron  (2) 
was  a  farmer  and  physician  of  Tunnel  Hill  Township.  He  married 
Amanda  (see  Chapman)  and  died  when  quite  a  young  man.     Drucflla 

(2)  married  George  Worley.  Mary  (2)  married  Tamberlain  Chapman. 
Jane  (2)  married  Henry  Anderson  and  had  Drucilla  (3)  who  married 
Thomas  (see  Chapman);     Frank  (3)  married  Melissa  Chapman,  Norve 

(3)  and  John  (3). 

Almus  G.  (2)  grew  up  and  was  educated  in  this  county.  He  be- 
gan as  a  teacher,  later  selected  law  as  his  profession,  in  which  he 
made  a  decided  success.  He  was  a  man  of  ability  and  energy  and 
served  the  county  as  States  Attorney.  His  health  failed  and  he  re- 
moved with  his  family  to  San  Bernardino,  Calif.,  where  he  died  in 
1884.  He  married  Edith,  daughter  of  A.  J.  Kuykendall.  They  had 
Mamie,  who  married  and  was  a  former  resident  of  New  York  City. 
Wirt  is  a  prominent  attorney  of  Harrisburg,  and  has  served  that  city 
as  judge. 

ELKINS 

John  Elkins,  tradition  says,  was  Welch  and  came  originally 
from  Wales,  settled  in  North  Carolina  and  removed  to  Tennessee, 
and  finally  to  Illinois  about  1809,  settling  somewhere  near  the  Samuel 
Glassford  home.  His  family  consisted  of  a  wife,  Elizabeth  Styles 
whom  he  married  in  1798,  and  seven  children;  one  son  stopped  in 
Kentucky  of  whom  there  is  no  history.  The  children  coming  to 
this  county  were  William  (2),  Richard  (2),  Whit  (2)  Amy  (2), 
Fanny  (2)  and  Joshua  (2).  John  Elkins  lived  in  this  county  several 
years  and  moved  to  Little  Rock,  Ark.  and  his  daughter,  Fannie   (2; 


370  A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


who  had  married  John  Mansfield  and  his  youngest  son,  Joshua  (2; 
accompanied  him.  He  died  there  at  the  age  of  ninety-four.  William 
Elkins  (2)  married  Sarah  Graves,  a  daughter  of  John  S.,  who  his 
grandson,  George  Elkins,  (now  ninety-nine  years  old)  says,  served  in 
the  Revolution  from  North  Carolina.  Their  children  were  John  ('6), 
Joshua  (3),  Catherine  (3),  George  (3),  Richard  (3),  Fed  (3),  Eli  (3), 
Emeline  (3). 

John  Elkins  (3)  married  Betsy  Dooley  and  had  Sarah  (4),  Emeline 
<4),  Samuel  (4),  Frank  (4).  Sarah  (4)  married  John  Gould  and  had 
John  P.  (5),  Charles  (5),  Mrs.  Fred  Mullins  (5),  Willis  (5),  Carl  (5), 
and  Mrs.  Carl  Reeves.  Emeline  (4)  married  John  Busby  and  lives 
in  Ball  Knob,  Ark.  Samuel  (4)  married  first  Narcissa  (Suit)  Scott 
and  second  Ann  Elkins  (4).  John  (3)  married  second  Margaret 
Williams  and  had  John  (4)  (called  Bud.)  John  (3)  married  third 
Emeline  Allen. 

Joshua  (3)  married  Acquilla  Gurley,  1839  and  their  children  were 
Catherine  (4),  Melissa  (4),  Louisa  (4),  Clarissa  (4),  George  (4). 
Willis  (4),  Jackson  (4),  Isaac  Newton  (4).  Catherine  (4)  married 
Richard  Thomas  and  had  Basil  G.  (5),  Josephine  (5),  Rosa  (5). 
Basil  G.  (5)  married  Mollie  Orr.  Josephine  (5)  married  Jack  Land. 
Rosa  (5)  married  John  N.  Elkins,  son  of  Hight.  Melissa  (4)  married 
Dennis  Stephens  and  had  Marion  J.  (5),  Charles  (5)  and  Ella  (5). 
Louisa  (4)  married  Hiram  Worley  and  had  George  (5)  who  married 
Miss  Neibour  and  Vernilla  (5)  married  Mr.  Elderman  and  had  two 
children.  Both  families  resided  in  Union  County.  Clarissa  (4)  mar- 
ried Andrew  Amburn  and  had  Olive  (5)  who  married  Ambrose 
Stokes  of  this  county.  Florence  (5)  married  Francis  Thornton  and 
has  Lena  (6)  Francis  (6)  George  (4)  married  Margaret  Slack  and 
they  had  Lee  (5)  and  George  L.  (5).  Willis  A.  (4)  married  Alice 
Lingle  and  has  Maud  (5),  Fay  (5),  Fred  (5).  Maud  (5)  married  John 
Wright  and  has  Genevive  (6);  Fay  (5)  married  Fred  Wilburn  and  has 
Violet  (6)  and  Lenten  (6).  Fred  married  Etta  Primm.  Newton  (4) 
married  Ellis  Stokes  and  had  Homer  (5),  May  (5),  Pearl  (5),  Lloyd 
(5),  Newton  (5).  Homer  (5)  married  Rosaliri  Roberts  and  hard  one 
daughter.     May   (5)   married   Burton   Bagby   and  has   Burton  Jr.    (6). 

Lloyd  (5)  married  Evelyn and  has  Catherine  (6).    Jackson 

(4)  not  married. 

Catherine  (3)  married  Alfred  (see  Copeland) ;  George  (3)  born 
1825  and  married  first  Martha  Jones  and  had  Mary  (4)  and  James  (4). 
Mary  (4)  married  William  Turley  and  had  Lethia  (5),  James  (5), 
Cordelia  (5).  Lethia  (5)  married  B.  S.  Penrod  and  had  Charles  (6), 
Joshua  (6),  Ray  (6).  James  (5)  left  the  county  years  ago.  He  has 
a  daughter  who  lives  in  Colorado.  James  (4)  married  Ella  Taylor 
and  had  Pearl   (5),  who  married  first  Mr.  Bright  and  had  John   (6). 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY  371 


Pearl  (5)  married  second  Daltou  Baily  and  has  one  daughter,  Mrs. 
Ed  Broen  of  Keville,  Ky.  George  (3)  married  second  Martha  Stewart 
and  had  Manzell  (4),  Nancy  (4),  Frank  (4),  J.  Adolphus  (4),  Anna 
(4),  Joshua  (4).  Nancy  (4)  married  W.  A.  Stone  and  had  Harrison 
(5),  Jewel  (5),  Willis  (5),  Olin  (5).  Jewel  (5)  married  Herbert  King. 
Frank  (4)  lives  at  Jefferson  City,  Mo.  Anna  (4)  married  Samuel 
Elkins  (4).  Joshua  (4)  married  Marie  Martin  and  lives  in  Los  Gatos, 
Calif.  Manzell  and  J.  A.  (4)  live  on  the  home  farm  with  their  father. 
This  county  claims  to  have  the  oldest  farmer  in  the  United 
States,  meaning  a  man  who  still  farms  and  has  lived  on  the  same 
farm  the  longest  period  of  time,  in  the  person  of  George  Elkins  (3). 
He  entered  his  land  from  the  government  and  has  lived  and  farmed 
on  it  continously  since.  Uncle  George  doesn't  manage  his  farm,  but 
he  always  has  a  small  field  of  corn,  potatoes  and  a  garden,  which 
he  actually  cultivates.  He  will  reach  the  century  mark  if  he  lives 
until  April  5,  1925.  His  faculties  are  wonderful  except  his  hearing,  but 
his  memory  is  almost  perfect,  especially  about  things  that  happened 
a  long  time  ago.  He  hitches  his  horse  to  a  buggy,  and  drives  to 
Vienna,  a  distance  of  about  five  miles  when  the  weather  is  suitable. 
He  says  he  was  ten  years  old  the  first  time  he  went  to  Vienna 
and  rode  on  horse  back,  and  when  he  was  old  enough  to  vote  he  came 
to  town,  put  his  head  in  the  window  of  the  courthouse  and  called  out 
who  he  wanted  to  vote  for.  He  further  relates  that  the  section  of 
the  town  where  the  jail  now  stands  was  covered  with  forest  trees 
and  that  he  doesn't  remember  but  one  store  and  that  was  kept  by  John 
Dunn.  He  was  given  a  trip  to  Aurora,  Illinois,  two  years  ago  in 
honor  of  his  being  the  oldest  farmer  of  the  U.  S.,  by  the  Central 
Illinois  Fair  Association.  They  paid  his  expenses  as  well  as  those  of 
his  daughter  Manzell  who  accompanied  him.  He  was  entertained  at 
a  private  home  and  enjoyed  his  trip,  especially  the  live  stock  exhibits 
of  the  fair.  In  a  joking  way,  he  said  last  summer  he  only 
lacked  seventeen  months  of  being  a  hundred  years  old  and 
he  was  going  to  live  that  long  if  he  could.  For  a  number  of  years 
the  relatives,  neighbors  and  friends  of  "Uncle  George,"  as  he  is 
known,  far  and  near,  go  and  spend  the  day  with  him  on  his  birthday. 
They  take  their  dinners,  and  as  the  weather  is  usually  pleasant  at 
this  time  of  the  year  it  is  spread  on  the  lawn.  These  gatherings  in- 
clude visitors  from  many  of  the  neighboring  towns  and  reach  the 
number  of  two  hundred  and  fifty  to  three  hundred.  He  looks  forward 
to  these  occasions  with  a  great  deal  of  pleasure  and  seems  to  enjoy 
the  meal  as  well  as  any  of  the  guests.  Uncle  George  has  lived  a  loffg 
and  useful  life  and  has  many  friends  who  hope  he  may  reach  the 
goal  of  one  hundred  years.  The  improvements  and  inventions  that 
have  come  under  his  span  of  life  are  manifold. 


372  A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


Richard  (3)  married  Mary  Thornton  and  had  Sarah  (4),  Martha 
(4),  Hosea  (4)  and  Preston  (4).  Sarah  (4)  married  John  Lanom. 
Martha  (4)  first  married  Choate  Lanom  and  third  Milton  Penrod. 
Hosea  (4)  married  Ellen  Heilman.  Preston  (4)  is  not  married  but 
lives  on  the  old  homestead.  Fed  (3)  married  Abby  Gurley  and  had 
William  (4).  Eli  (3)  married  Jane  Anderson  and  had  Mary  (4),  Rosa 
(4),  Alice  (4),  Cora  (4),  Cordie  (4),  and  Channas  (4).  Mary  (4) 
married  first  Lowery  Low  and  second  a  Mr.  Vandiver.  Rosa  (4) 
married  first  James  Key  and  second  Mr.  McDowell.  Alice  (4)  mar- 
ried Charles  Peterson  (see  Reynolds.)  Cora  (4)  married  D.  D.  Stew- 
art. Cordia  (4)  married  Alice  Cagle  and  has  Nell  (5),  Samuel  F. 
(5),  Everett  (5).  Samuel  F.  (5)  married  Althea  Arnett.  Channas  (4) 
lives  in  Johnson  City,  111.  Emeline  Elkins  (3)  married  Jefferson 
Morris  and  had  James  (4).  Whit  Elkins  (2)  married  Kizzie,  sister 
to  Judge  John  Oliver,  and  had  John  (3),  Young  (3),  "Pop"  (3)  (sup- 
posed to  be  Martha),  and  Champ  (3).  John  (3),  (called  Big  John) 
married  Catherine  (see  Simpson).  Young  (3)  was  killed  in  Vienna. 
111.,  when  a  young  man.  Pop  (3)  married  John  H.  (see  Bridges). 
Champ  (3)  married,  died  and  left  a  daughter  Ellen  (4),  who  married 
Milton  Cochran.  Amy  Elkins  (2)  married  William  Barton  (see  Smith) 
Richard  Elkins  (2)  married  Sarah  Gore,  and  as  far  as  is  known  they 
had  Waton  (3),  who  married  and  had  Alney  H.  (4),  who  was  born  and 
raised  in  this  county,  and  served  in  the  31st  Illinois  Volunteer.  He 
married  Mary  Stone,  born  1847,  and  they  had  John  (5),  Clinton  (5), 
Richard   (5),  James  (5),  Samantha  (5)  and  Harrison   (5). 

Dr.  George  L.  son  of  Joshua  and  Acquilla  Elkins,  was  born  in 
this  county  1850.  He  acquired  his  primary  education  here  and  gradu- 
ated from  Rush  Medical  College,  Chicago,  1868.  He  practiced  his 
profession  in  Vienna  until  1879,  when  he  was  appointed  physician  at 
the  Southern  Illinois  prison  at  Chester.  He  died  very  early  in  his 
career  being  a  little  more  than  thirty  years  old.  He  married  Margaret 
Slack  and  they  had  Lee  and  George  L.  Lee  is  a  graduate  of  Bloom- 
ington  Normal  and  was  a  teacher  in  the  Chicago  Schools  for  some 
time.  Her  husband,  C.  D.  Stillwell  was  a  prominent  attorney  of 
Harrisburg,  111.,  where  he  served  as  city  judge.  He  died  1923.  George 
L.,  who  was  born  and  partially  reared  in  this  county  is  a  graduate  of 
Vienna  High  School,  has  large  plantation  interests  in  Porto  Rico, 
making  a  specialty  of  growing  and  exporting  grapefruit  and  pine- 
apple. .  He  also  has  a  residence  in  New  Hampshire,  where  he  and  his 
mother  spend  the  hot  season.  Mrs.  Elkins,  though  widowed  early 
managed  to  give  her  children  the  very  best  educational  advantages 
and  is  enjoying  the  fruits  of  her  untiring  efforts  in  their  behalf. 
George  L.  makes  a  pleasant  home  for  his  mother  and  sister. 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY  373 


ENGLISH 

Abraham  and  James  English  came  from  County  Kerry,  Ireland, 
and  settled  in  North  Carolina,  during  colonial  days.  Abraham  later 
removed  to  South  Carolina.  He  assisted  in  the  establishing  of  the 
Independence  of  the  colonies  by  furnishing  a  horse  to  a  messnger 
to  notify  the  patriots  that  a  company  of  Royalists  were  encamped  on 
the  Pedee  River  on  which  he  lived.  Abraham's  son  Johnathan  who 
was  the  grandfather  of  George  W.  was  born  on  the  Pedee  River, 
North  Carolina,  1812.  He  left  the  South  at  the  time  of  the  Seminole 
War,  coming  north,  finally  settling  in  Illinois,  in  1846,  and  spent  the 
rest  of  his  days  in  Massac  County,  and  died  in  1891.  Manuel  C.  the 
son  of  Johnthan  was  born  in  Kentucky  in  1842.  He  served  in  the 
Civil  War  in  Company  B.  120th  Illinois  Volunteers,  three  years.  He 
married  Rebecca  Smith,  who  was  a  native  of  Massac.  Her 
maternal  grandparents  were  Scotch  on  one  side  and  Sweedish  on  the 
other.  Americus  Smith  father  of  Mrs.  English  was  a  native  of  Nortn 
Carolina  and  a  Baptist  minister.  He  began  preaching  when  he  was 
twenty  years  old  and  kept  up  this  good  work  for  more  than  fifty 
years,  and  was  another  minister  who  took  up  arms  as  a  Regulator  in 
the  interest  of  law  and  order  in  Massac  County  in  1846,  having  come  to 
Illinois  in  1814.  Manuel  and  Rebecca  settled  on  a  farm  in  Johnson 
County  and  their  children  'vere  Caddie  Elizabeth  (2)  who  married 
a  Mr.  Barnham  and  left  two  children.  Julia  Victoria  (2)  married  H. 
A.  Roundtree  and  died  in  1912,  leaving  two  sons  and  five  daughters. 
George  W.  (2)  who  was  their  second  child  was  born  in  Johnson 
County  in  1866,  and  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of  the  county, 
Ewing  College,  and  later  entered  Illinois  Wesleyan,  at  Bloomington, 
and  graduated  in  law  in  1891.  He  was  for  a  time  employed  as  a 
teacher,  but  began  the  practice  of  Law  in  Vienna  with  H.  M.  Riden- 
hower,  Jr.,  1893,  which  he  continued  after  Mr.  Ridenhower's  death  in 
1896.  In  1906,  he  was  elected  as  a  democrat  to  the  State  Legislature, 
serving  three  terms.  He  was  appointed  under  Wilson,  as  an  attorney 
in  the  Treasury  at  Washington,  D.  C.  After  some  years  of  service  he 
resigned  and  came  back  to  Illinois  locating  in  Centralia,  following  his 
profession  there.  He  was  later  appointed  a  Federal  Judge  by  Presi- 
dent Wilson,  and  the  family  now  reside  in  East  St.  Louis,  111.  Mr. 
English  married  Lilly,  daughter  of  T.  G.  and  Amanda  Farris  in  1894. 
Their  children  were  Thomas  Farris  (3),  George  W.  (3),  Virgil  Carrol 
(3),  and  William  J.  (3).  Farris  (3)  is  married  has  two  children  and 
resides  in  Kasi  St.  Louis,  where  he  is  cashier  of  a  bank. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  English  were  residents  of  Vienna  for  many  years 
where  they  and  their  family  added  much  to  the  social  life  of  the 
community.      She   was   a   devoted   member   of   the    Methodist   Church 


374  A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


and  Mr.  English  assisted  in  its  activities  and  support.  He  is  a  mason, 
an  odd  fellow,  and  they  were  both  members  of  the  Egyptian  chapter 
O.  E.  S.  number  30. 

FARRIS 
Manuel  E.  and  Elizabeth  (Jones)  Farris  were  Virginians,  bur 
emigrated  to  Tennessee  in  the  early  part  of  the  Nineteenth  century. 
Their  youngest  son  was  Thomas  G.,  born  in  Giles  County,  that  state, 
1823,  and  when  about  twenty-one  years  old  came  to  Union  County, 
111.,  but  later  entered  land  in  Johnson  County,  which  is  a  part  of  the 
six  hundred  acres  on  which  he  lived  at  the  time  of  his  death.  He 
brought  his  mother  to  this  home  where  she  lived  many  years.  He 
was  a  first  class  farmer  of  his  time  and  his  widow  and  youngest  son 
still  resides  on  the  farm.  Thomas  G.  (2)  married  Catherine  Gillespie 
and  they  had  Stephen  (3),  who  married  Frances  Helm,  they  had 
Loyd  (4),  Retta  (4),  Allice  (4).  Loyd  (4)  married  May  Jamison  and 
has  Marion  (5)  and  Frances  (5).  Retta  (4)  married  Thomas  Duncan 
and  has  Helen  (5)  and  Donald  (5).  Alice  (4)  married  Byron  Dunn. 
After  Catherine's  death,  Thomas  G.  (2)  married  Amanda  Gillespie 
and  their  children  are  J.  F.  (3),  who  married  Mary  Grissom,  also 
a  native  of  this  county,  their  children  are  Dawes  (4),  who  married 
Zona  (see  Simpson).  Mamie  (4)  married  H.  A.  Spann  (see  Simpson) 
and  Maple  (4)  in  school.  Charles  (3)  married  Mary  Terrhanious. 
Tennie  (3)  married  Joshua  Howell  (see  Simpson).  Nettie  (3)  manTed 
William  Grissom  and  had  Curtis  (4),  Dorthy  (4)  and  Mildred  (4). 
Nora  (3)  married  Thomas  Cowan  (see  Worley).  Lilly  (3)  married 
George  (see  English).  Neoma  (3)  married  Edward  Carlton,  has 
Dale  (4),  Lewis  (4)  and  Ned  (4).  This  family  resides  at  Coulter 
ville,  111.,  where  Mr.  Carlton  is  cashier  of  the  First  National  Bank  of 
that  city.  Dr.  G.  K.  (3)  married  Edith  Burnett.  Maude  (3)  is  the 
widow  of  Roscoe  Walker  and  has  Joseph  (4).  Ward  (3)  married 
Bernice  McMecan.  The  children  are  Mildred  (4),  Dema  (4),  Florence 
(4).  He  lives  on  the  home  farm.  Other  members  of  Emanuel  and 
Elizabeth's  family  were  Ned  (2)  who  married  Elizabeth  Ball  and  had 
Mary  (3),  who  married  Pleasant  (see  Rose).  Minerva  (3)  married 
John  Howell  and  had  Claud  (4).  Malinda  (3)  married  James  Stout, 
their  children  were  Edward  (4)  and  Thomas  (4).  John  M.  (3)  mar- 
ried Margaret  Murrie,  children  Hartzel  (4),  Edward  W.  (4),  Lawrence 
(4),  Charles  (4),  Mrs.  Dick  Morgan  (4)  and  Mrs.  Duff  Howell  ""(*)■ 
Ned  Farris  (2)  married  second  Mary  Wilsford;  children  living,  J.  W. 
of  Bloomfield  and  Fred.  William  (3)  married  Sarah  Redden.  They 
had  children,  Charles  (4),  Alonza  (4),  John  (4),  William  (4),  Newton 
(4),  Joseph  (4),  Alice  (4),  Martha  (4),  Sidney  (4).  Most  of  this 
:'amily  have  left  the  county.  Irene  (2)  married  William  Keith  and 
their  children  were  John    (3),  who  married  India   Grissom,  and   had 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY  375 


William  (4),  James  (4),  Lula  (4),  Charles  (4),  Mabel  (4)  and  George 
(4),  who  resides  in  San  Diego,  Calif.,  where  his  mother  makes  her 
home.  William  (4)  has  been  an  employe  of  the  War  College,  Wash- 
ington, D.  C.  for  many  years  and  reached  the  rank  of  Major  during 
the  World  War.  Irene  (3)  married  Pleasant  Veach  (see  Chapman). 
Thomas  (3)  married  Mary  Slack  and  had  Ida  (4),  James  (4),  Nora 
(4),  and  John  (4).  Mary  (2)  married  Blant  Keltner  and  their  chil- 
dren were  Ned  (3),  Louis  (3),  John  (3)  Stephen  (3)  and  Alice  (3) 
who  married  Thomas  C.  Murrie.  Most  of  this  family  are  residents 
of  this  county.  One  other  daughter  of  Manuel  and  Elizabeth  married 
Neal  Carter,  Sr. 

J.  F.  Farris  was  born  in  this  county  and  for  years  was  a  first 
class  farmer,  residing  four  miles  east  of  Vienna.  He  moved  to 
Vienna  to  give  his  children  the  benefit  of  the  schools  about  fifteen 
years  ago  and  engaged  in  the  farm  implement,  hardware  and  trans- 
portation business  which  he  has  followed  with  success.  For  family 
see  Farris. 

FERN 

Lawrence  W.  Fern  was  a  native  of  England,  born  in  Derbyshire, 
Jan.  14,  1818.  He  came  with  his  parents  to  the  United  States  when 
only  six  years  old,  and  states  in  his  biography  that  they  sailed  from 
Liverpool,  with  a  Captain  Collins,  and  were  sixty-nine  days  on  the 
voyage.  They  lost  their  way  in  a  fog,  and  when  it  cleared  they  found 
themselves  on  the  coast  of  Nova  Scotia.  Mr.  Fern's  parents  settled 
in  New  York  State,  where  he  received  a  liberal  education,  and  was 
admitted  to  the  bar  when  twenty-one  years  old  and  practiced  in  both 
New  York  and  Illinois,  coming  to  the  latter  state  as  a  resident,  in 
1843,  although  a  lawyer  he  followed  farming  and  teaching  a  greater 
part  of  his  life.  He  was  one  of  the  pioneer  educators  of  this  county 
and  was  county  surveyor  in  1865.  He  purchased  one  thousand  acres 
of  land  which  was  thought  to  be  a  very  follish  idea  at  that  time, 
his  neighbors  called  him  land  poor.  He  paid  one  dollar  taxes  in 
1846,  and  for  forfy  five  years  paid  forty-five  dollars  a  year  taxes. 
His  wife  was  Ellen  Lasley,  a  native  of  Kentucky.  Their  children 
were  W.  J.  (2),  Andrew  J.  (2),  a  farmer  of  this  county,  Sarah  E.  (2), 
wife  of  E.  H.  Lemons,  Missouri  L.  (2),  wife  of  J.  J.  Whiteside,  a 
merchant  of  Simpson,  India  L.  (2),  wife  of  William  Simpson,  Fransis 
(2),  wife  of  Alfred  Willis.  Mr.  Fern  was  a  mason,  a  republican  and 
in  religion,  a  Missionary  Baptist.  He  died  in  1890.  W.  J.  Fern  (2) 
was  born  in  this  county  in  1846.  He  remained  on  his  fathers  farm 
till  about  sixtee-  years  old,  receiving  a  good  education  in  the  district 
school.  He  a/ierward  attended  College  Hill  Seminary  and  later 
graduated  from  Rush  Medical  College,  Chicago,  111.,  when  twenty-one 
years  of  age.     He  began  the  practice  of  medicine  in  Grantsburg,  this 


376  A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


county,  1868.  The  following  year  he  married  Sarah  J.,  the  daughter 
of  S.  D.  and  S.  J.  Poor.  They  lived  five  years  in  that  community, 
two  years  in  Vienna,  and  removed  to  Tunnel  Hill,  where  they  resided 
the  remainder  of  their  lives.  He  had  an  extensive  practice  and  was  a 
trusted  physician,  also  owned  a  drug  store  there  for  many  years.  Dr. 
and  Mrs.  Fern  had  three  children,  Nora  (3),  who  married  R.  S.  Gil- 
liam, Lawrence  D.  (3)  of  Vienna,  who  is  engaged  in  the  drug  business 
who  married  Margaret  Whitehead,  two  sons  were  born  to  them, 
Herbert  (4)  and  Louis  (4).  Herbert  was  drowned  at  New  Orleans, 
La.,  1924.  W.  J.  (3)  married  Ada  Taylor  and  their  children  are 
William,  a  pharmacist  ,and  Lucile  (4),  a  teacher  who  married  Mr.  Mc- 
Cuan,  1924. 

FINNY 
Judge  James  Finny  was  a  very  prominent  man  in  the  early 
history  of  this  section  of  the  state.  His  name  appears  on  the  Cahokia 
records  1780.,  and  on  Randolph  County  records  as  early  as  1806.  He 
was  the  first  county  clerk  of  this  county  and  seved  till  about  1830  or 
later.  He  was  also  recorder  of  deeds,  and  must  have  been  a  man  of 
classical  education.  His  writing  of  more  than  one  hundred  years 
ago,  is  neat  and  legible,  and  the  records  kept  by  him  are  in  good 
form  as  long  as  he  was  in  office.  He  was  never  married.  David 
Finny  of  Pope  County  born  1833,  says  he  was  the  grandson  of  Alex- 
ander Finny,  a  prominent  educator  of  Virginia,  who  had  seven  sons 
eight  daughters,  of  which  his  father,  Norman  was  one,  and  that 
Judge  James  Finny  was  Alexander  Finny's  brother.  James  Slack, 
grandson  of  John  Finny  said  Judge  James  Finny  was  his  great  uncle, 
which  would  mean  that  Norman  was  one  of  Alexander's  sons  and 
John  another.  R.  M.  Finny  of  Kennet,  Mo.,  says,  it  has  always  been 
his  understanding,  that  Alexander  Finny  of  Virginia  was  his  grand 
father,  and  gives  as  his  father's  brothers  Greenville  Penn  (2),  John 
(2),  William  (2),  his  father  James  M.  (2),  who  was  born  1817. 
R.  M.  Finny  gives  as  his  fathers  sisters,  Mary  (Polly)  (2), 
who  married  William  Slack,  Matilda  (2)  married  David  Penrod, 
another  sister  married  a  Mr.  Penrod,  another  sister  married  Walton 
John  Gore,  still  another  married  a  Mr.  Hooker.  William  and  John 
Penrod  were  mentioned  as  buyers  at  the  sale  of  the  John  Finny 
estate,  1837.  John  (2)  married  Sarah  Reynolds  and  had  Mary,  who 
married  William  (see  Slack).  James  M.  (2)  married  Mary  Ann 
Smith,  born  1829  and  had  Matilda  (3),  Milinda  (3),  John  Marshall  (3;, 
Jefferson  G.  (3),  R.  M.  (3),  Sarah  Elizabeth  (3),  W.  B.  (3),  Virginia 
M.  (3),  and  Sample  Parks  (3),  this  family  has  all  noved  out  of  the 
county.  R.  M.  is  a  successful  business  man  of  Kennet,  Mo.  and  is 
well  known  in  this  and  his  community.  Sally  Finny  entered  land  in 
this  county  1837  and  was  the  mother  of  John  Finny. 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY  377 


Will  of  John  Finny,  October  24,  1836,  I,  John  Finny,  of  the 
county  of  Johnson,  being  weak  in  body  but  sound  mind  and  memory, 
do  ordain  and  establish  this  to  be  my  last  will  and  testament,  hereby 
revoking  all  others  and  I  do  hereby  appoint  Sally  Finny,  my  mother 
to  be  the  executrix  of  this,  my  last  will  and  testament.  This  is 
my  will  that  she  will  take  all  my  family  and  let  them  live  at  her 
house,  and  that  she  will  take  all  my  property  and  spend  it  to  rafse 
my  children,  and  my  wife  must  work  and  help  to  raise  my  children, 
and  she  is  to  have  her  part  with  them,  and  if  there  is  any  more  than 
it  takes  to  raise  them,  I  want  her  to  let  them  have  it  when  they  be- 
come of  age.  William  Slack,  James  M.  Finny  and  Polly  Slack,  wit- 
nesses. In  connection  with  this  estate  is  an  instrument  signed  by 
Polly  Finny,  wife  of  John  Finny  in  which  she  renounces  all  claim  to 
her  husband's  property  and  also  a  notice  to  Mary  Ann,  Lucinda,  and 
William  Finny,  heirs  of  John  P.  Finny  to  appear  at  court  in  1837.  The 
estate  of  Green  P.  Finny  who  died  in  1863,  was  administered  on  by 
John  Slack.  Rachel  is  given  as  the  wife  of  Greenville  P.  and  their 
children  were  William  M.,  John  M.  and  Gilbert. 

FISHER 
Robert  M.  Fisher  was  born  in  Johnson  County,  1843,  and  de- 
scended from  William  Fisher,  which  is  among  the  earliest  names 
found  on  the  county  record.  William  (1)  came  to  this  county  about 
1810  from  Indiana.  William  Fisher  (2),  son  to  the  former,  and  the 
father  of  our  subject  was  born  in  this  county  in  1816,  died  in  the 
prime  of  life  when  R.  M.  was  one  year  old.  He  was  reared  on  a  farm 
and  attended  public  school  occasionally,  but  the  most  of  his  education 
was  gained  outside  of  school,  having  a  preference  for  law,  he  begaii 
the  study  of  law  under  John  F.  McCartney  of  Massac  County,  and 
studied  later  under  Judge  Duff  of  Benton,  •  Franklin  County.  He 
opened  an  office  in  Vienna  1873,  and  continued  to  practice  here  till 
1895  when  he  left  the  county,  going  to  Oklahoma.  Mr.  Fisher  held 
office  in  the  county,  was  elected  County  Superintendent  of  Johnson 
County  Schools  in  1^69.  In  1876  he  was  elected  to  the  office  of 
Prosecuting  Attorney  and  again  in  1888,  as  a  republican.  He  married 
first,  Mary  E.  Fisher  (see  Simpson.)  Mr.  Fisher  married  second, 
Mrs.  G.  O.  Hamilton,  who  was  a  native  of  Williamson  County.  They 
had  Amy  and  Mildred.  Amy  married  Charles  Johnson,  resides  in 
Canton,  Ohio.  Mildred  married  Robert  Kerr,  and  resides  in  Tulsa, 
Okla.    Mr.  Fisher  lives  at  present  (1924)  at  Long  Beach,  Calif. 

FRANCIS 
James   S.   was   the   son   of   Olmstead   who   was    born   in   Virginia 
1823  and  Nancy  (Dorrity)   Francis.     He  was  born  in  Tennessee,  1852 
and   came  |o   this   county   when   a   child   with   his   parents.      He   was 


378  A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


educated  in  the  schools  of  the  county  and  McKendree  College,  Leban- 
on, 111.,  followed  teaching  for  some  time,  in  1880  he  was  elected  C/r- 
cuit  Clerk  for  the  county  and  was  later  elected  to  serve  on  the  State 
Board  of  Equalization.  He  then  engaged  in  the  mercantile  business 
till  1897  when  he  was  appointed  to  a  position  in  the  Secretary  ol 
States  office,  Springfield,  111.,  which  position  he  filled  till  his  final 
illness.  Mr.  Francis  married  Nannie  E.  Hogg  (see  Harvick).  His 
widow  and  family  reside  in  Springfield,  111. 

FRIZZELL 

L.  H.  Frizzell  was  a  native  of  this  county  and  born  in  Burnsido 
Township,  1852.  He  was  reared  and  educated  in  that  community, 
and  on  arriving  at  the  age  of  manhood,  set  out  for  himself  on  a  farm 
in  Grantsburg  township,  where  he  resided  until  1886,  when  he  was 
elected  sheriff  of  the  county.  He  was  interested  in  the  drug  business 
with  T.  B.  Powell  for  several  years  and  was  elected  to  the  Legisla- 
ture of  this  state  as  a  Democrate  in  1900.  After  this  service  ex- 
pired he  lived  for  a  short  time  in  Metropolis,  but  returned  to  Vienna 
where  he  spent  the  rest  of  his  life.  He  married  Sidney,  daughter  of 
S.  D.  Poor,  and  their  children  are  Arista  (2),  widow  of  Ernest  Moore, 
who  resides  with  her  sons  Len  Wallen  and  Ernest  Jr.  at  Caruthers- 
ville,  Mo.  Mattie  (2)  wife  of  Thomas  Johnson,  a  business  man  of 
Cairo,  111.  They  have  one  son,  Dan.  Lewis  (2)  is  a  druggist  and 
conducts  a  business  at  Mounds,  111.  Herman  (2)  the  youngest  is  a 
graduate  of  the  Bloomington  Lew  school  and  is  practicing  his  pro- 
fession in  East  St.  Louis.  He  married  Mary  Hooker  of  Vienna  and 
they  have  Lewis   (3). 

GALEENER 

W.  E.  Galeener  came  to  this  county  from  Union  in  1869,  but  was 
a  native  of  Ohio.  He  served  in  the  Civil  War,  though  not  from  this 
county.  He  lived  for  several  years  at  Tunnel  Hill  and  was  the  pioneer 
nurseryman  of  this  county.  Mr.  Galeener  was  a  man  ot  influence  in 
his  community  and  was  always  found  on  the  right  side  of  all  moral 
questions.  He  was  a  republican,  mason  and  Odd  Fellow,  belonged  to 
the  G.  A.  R.  and  took  a  great  interest  in  the  general  welfare  of  the 
community  and  in  the  Methodist  church  of  which  he  was  a  member. 
For  his  family  (see  Simpson).  He  married  second  widow  of  J.  B. 
Chapman,  with  whom  he  lived  for  twenty-five  years.  Mr.  Galeener 
died  in  1921. 

George  E.  Galeener  is  a  native  of  this  county  and  a  son  of  W.  E. 
and  India  (Perkins)  Galeener.  He  was  educated  in  our  public  schools 
and  the  University  of  Illinois.  He  is  one  of  our  young,  energetic  men 
who  adds  knowledge  to  his  experience  as  a  nurseryman.  He  is  a 
member  of'  the  M.  E.  Church,  a  Republican  and  one  of  our  dependable 
citizens.    For  family  (see  Chapman). 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY  379 


GIBBS 

Dr.  Worthington  J.  Gibbs  settled  in  Vienna,  Johnson  County, 
1830.  He  was  born  in  Phildelphia,  Pa.,  where  he  acquired  his  train- 
ing in  medicine  under  his  father  who  was  also  a  physician.  He 
practiced  here  more  than  twenty-five  years  and  was  well  and  favor- 
ably known.  The  work  of  a  country  doctor  was  a  much  more  diffi- 
cult task  in  those  days  than  at  the  present,  owing  to  the  primitive 
highways  and  the  inconvenient  modes  of  travel.  He  represented  this 
district  in  the  State  Senate  from  1838  to  1842.  His  home  has  been 
referrel  to  as  being  one  of  the  most  modern  of  its  time  and  standing 
where  the  Carnegie  Library  now  stands.  Dr.  W.  J.  (1)  married 
Sabrina  Rentfro,  1830  and  their  children  were  Worthington  J.  (2), 
Elizabeth  B.  (2),  Mariah  (2),  J.  A.  Mack  (2)  and  Sidney  Breeze  (2). 
W.  J.  (2)  married  Eliza  Whitemore.  Eliza  B.  (2)  married  James  J.  (see 
Bridges).  Mariah  S.  (2)  married  J.  F.  Benson  and  their  children  were 
George  (3)  who  married  Emma  McKee.  Edward  (3)  married  Minnie 
Cavitt.  May  (3)  married  John  Blanchfill.  Belle  (3)  married  Frank 
Lay  and  had  Mariah  (4),  Leah  (4),  Benson  (4),  and  June  (4).  Dr. 
J.  A.  Mack  (2)  married  Louisa  Burkhouser  and  settled  in  Alexander 
County,  near  Thebes,  where  he  practiced  medicine  until  about  two 
years  ago  when  he  removed  to  Cairo,  111.  He  died  in  1924,  a  very 
old  man  leaving  one  son.  Sidney  Breeze  (2)  married  William  J.  Owen 
and  their  children  were  Ida  (3),  June  (3),  Winifred  (3),  Myrtle  (3) 
most  of  whom  are  teachers. 

GILLESPIE 

Thomas  L.  Gillespie  was  born  in  Saulsbury,  North  Carolina  and 
was  a  son  of  George  Gillespie,  who  immigrated  to  this  country  in 
colonial  days  from  Scotland.  George  resided  on  a  farm  near  Slates- 
ville,  N.  C.  Family  tradition  says,  he  served  in  the  War  of  Indepen- 
dence as  a  captain  in  General  Green's  command.  His  wife's  name 
was  Allison  or  Ellison,  also  Scotch.  He  went  from  North  Carolina  to 
Tennessee  and  laid  the  land  warrants  that  had  been  given  him  for  his 
services  in  the  war.  He  took  his  children  with  him,  Thomas  being 
among  the  number,  who  had  been  apprenticed  to  a  hatter  in  Sauls- 
bury,  in  his  youth,  where  he  met  Catherine  Baird,  and  later  married 
her.  They  raised  a  large  family,  two  sons  and  nine  daughters,  all 
of  whom  had  families.  Three  of  these  daughters  came  to  Illinois 
with  their  father.  Thomas  L.  who  was  born  1775.  The  three  daugh- 
ters who  accompanied  him  to  this  state  were  Elizabeth  (2),  who  mar- 
ried James  J.  Hogg,  they  had  John  L.  (3),  Matha  (3),  Thomas  (3), 
Frank  (3),  Gideon  (3),  Whitnel  (3).  John  L.  (3)  married  first 
Frances  (see  Walker),  second  Gertrude  Stout  they  have  Guy  (4), 
Ray  (4),  Tony  (4),  Tenny  (4),  Rubby  (4),  WTiitnel  (4).  Guy  (4)  mar- 
ried  Maud   Hamilton.     Ray    (4)    married   Virgia    Dotson.     Matha    (3) 


380  A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 

married  Adam  Harvick.  Thomas  (3)  married  Emma  (see  Boyt). 
Frank  (3)  married  Emma  Elkins;  they  had  Carrie  (4),  Fanny  (4), 
William  (4),  Essy  (4).  Carrie  (4)  married  a  Mr.  Bruner  of  Massac 
County.  Fanny  (4)  married  Mr.  Castleman  of  Illmo,  Mo.  Sarah  (2) 
married  John  L.  Hogg  and  had  Tabitha  (3)  who  married  David  (see 
Oliver).  James  (3),  George  (3)  married  Miss  Casper.  Pole  (3) 
Frank  (3)  married  Martha  Cantwell.  Neoma  (2)  married  John  M. 
Gillespie,  nephew  to  Thomas  L.,  and  their  children  were  Frank  (3), 
Sarah  E.  (3),  who  married  W.  P.  (see  Walker),  William  (3),  James 
(3),  who  married  Kate  Kuykendall,  Martha  (3)  married  Samuel  Jack- 
son and  left  one  son,  Samuel  (4).  Catherine  (3)  and  Amanda  (3) 
married  Thomas  (see  Farris).    Frank  (3)  married  Miss  Johnson. 

Captain  J.  B.  Gillespie  is  a  descandent  of  George  and  a  grandson 
of  Thomas  L.  whose  history  is  given  under  that  name.  J.  B.,  was  born 
in  Tennessee,  1838.  His  father  was  George,  and  his  mother  was 
Martha  Swain  who  belonged  to  the  Eagle  family  of  Arkansas.  The 
parents  died  before  J.  B.  was  five  years  old,  and  he  came  to  this 
county  with  his  grandfather  (Thomas  L.),  with  whom  he  resided  un- 
til 1855,  when  he  came  to  Vienna  and  found  employment,  helping  to 
build  the  Star  Mill,  at  thirteen  dollars  per  month.  After  this  he  began 
work  in  John  Bain's  store  at  nine  dollars  per  month  and  board,  later 
his  wages  were  increased  to  fifteen  dollars.  His  next  job  was  with 
Chapman  and  Hess  at  sixteen  dollars  per  month,  where  he  remained 
until  1862,  when  he  enlisted  in  the  Union  Army,  serving  as  Lieutenant, 
he  was  later  promoted  to  Captain  of  Company  I,  120th  regiment.  He 
was  captured  at  the  battle  of  Guntown,  and  was  taken  as  a  prisoner  to 
Macon,  Ga.,  where  he  suffered  all  the  privations  and  inconviences  of 
a  rebel  prison.  He  was  transferred  from  one  prison  to  another  and 
was  under  fire  of  Union  guns  at  Charleston,  S.  C.  He  was  not  ex- 
changed nor  released  until  1865  after  the  fall  of  the  Confederacy. 

After  the  war  he  followed  merchandising  and  farming,  also  served 
the  county  as  treasurer.  In  1897,  he  was  made  a  deputy  revenue 
collector  for  this  district,  which  position  he  filled  for  seventeen  years, 
as  long  as  his  health  would  permit.  He  and  wife  are  quite  old  and 
reside  in  East  St.  Louis.  They  are  republican  in  politics,  and  mem- 
bers of  the  M.  E.  Church.  He  is  a  Mason.  James  B.  (1)  married 
Mary  L.  daughter  of  Col  B.  S.  Enloe,  a  prominent  pioneer  of  Massac 
County  in  1862.  Their  children  are  George  B.  (2)  who  married  Ettie 
Oliver  and  they  had  Alfred  (3)  born  1892  and  killed  by  accident 
while  in  training  during  the  World  War.  Marion  (3)  served  in  the 
World  War  as  Captain,  and  Louis  (3)  is  a  student  of  law  at  Chicago 
University  (later  entered  the  firm  of  Gillespie  and  Gillespie).  This 
family  reside  in  Springfield,  111.  F.  S.  Gillespie  (2)  married  Belle 
Perkins.     He  was   killed  in   a  railroad   accident   1898.     James   B.   Jr. 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


(2)  married  Rose  Trapp,  children  Ruth  (3),  Emmet  (3),  Robert  (3) 
and  Rosemary  (3).  J.  B.  Jr.,  (2)  has  been  Superintendent  of  the 
Halliday  Grain  Elevator  at  Cairo,  111.,  lor  more  than  thirty  years. 
W.  L.  (2)  married  Clara  Huffman  (see  Simpson).  He  is  yard  master 
in  the  Illinois  Central  Railroad  yards  at  Cairo,  where  they  reside. 
Robert  E.  (2)  married  Ida  Spann  of  this  county  (see  Simpson). 
Robert  was  one  of  the  founders  of  the  National  Bank  of  East  St. 
Louis.  He  was  very  successful  in  business  and  died  at  a  very  useful 
time  of  life  (1920).  Fannie  (2)  married  Lee  Goodwin,  a  commission 
merchant  of  Jackson,  Mo.,  where  they  reside.  They  have  Lena  C3) 
who  married  C.  W.  Henderson,  and  has  Charles  Allen  (4);  Helen  (3), 
Walter  (3),  Brice  (3),  Frank  (3),  Mary  (3)  and  Ray  and  Roy  (3). 
Thomas  E.  (2)  married  Georgia  Blanchfil  of  Vienna.  They  have 
Alice  (3).  He  is  a  graduate  of  Vienna  High  and  Bloomington  Law 
Schools.  Has  practiced  law  several  years  in  East  St.  Louis  and 
recently  removed  to  Springfield,  111.,  where  he  entered  the  firm  of 
Gillespie  and  Gillespie,  composed  of  G.  B.  and  son,  Marion. 

George  B.  is  a  son  of  Captain  J.  B.  and  Mary  Enloe  Gillespie  and 
was  born  in  this  county,  was  educated  in  our  public  schools  supple- 
mented by  a  course  in  the  High  School  of  Metropolis,  111.  He  entered 
upon  a  brief  career  as  a  teacher  at  the  age  of  eighteen,  teaching  one 
term  at  Mt.  Pleasant  this  county,  he  then  entered  the  office  of  county 
clerk  as  deputy  which  place  he  filled  until  the  death  of  that  officer, 
when  he  was  appointed  to  fill  the  vacancy  till  the  time  for  an  election, 
in  the  meantime  reading,  law  during  his  spare  time.  He  later  entered 
the  law  office  of  A.  K.  Vickers  where  he  took  a  regular  course  of 
reading  with  office  work  finally  entering  the  Law  School  at  Bloom- 
ington and  graduating  from  there  in  1887.  In  1890  G.  B.  Gillespie 
and  L.  O.  Whitnel  formed  a  partnership  under  the  firm  name  of 
Whitnel  and  Gillespie.  This  was  a  strong  firm  composed  of  two 
Ambitious  and  energetic  young  men,  their  services  were  sought  far  and 
near,  their  reputation  and  ability  was  such  as  a  law  firm,  that  they 
soon  outgrew  this  community  and  sought  larger  and  more  remunera- 
tive fields.  Mr.  Gillespie  served  this  county  as  States  Attorney,  elected 
1892,  which  office  he  filled  with  credit  to  himself  and  terror  to  the 
law  breakers,  during  his  residence  here,  he  was  appointed  Assistant 
Attorney  General  of  the  state.  He  removed  with  his  family  to 
Springfield,  111.,  where  his  reputation  as  a  lawyer  is  state  wide.  For 
family  (see  Gillespie) 

GILLIAM 

W.  H.  Gilliam  came  to  this  county  over  the  same  route  that  most 
of  our  residents  did.  His  parents  came  from  Virginia  to  Tennessee, 
where  W.  H.  was  born,  1856.  His  father  brought  his  family  and 
settled   on   a   farm   near   New   Burnside   in   1860.      William   was   then 


382  A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


a  small  boy  and  was  raised  on  the  farm  and  educated  in  our  public 
schools  and  neighboring  colleges.  He  taught  for  a  short  time,  and 
began  his  public  career  as  clerk  in  the  New  Burnside  postoffice.  He 
served  as  deputy  in  the  office  of  the  Circuit  Clerk  and  Sheriff  of  the 
County  at  Vienna,  from  1882  till  1885,  when  he  entered  the  Journalistic 
field,  buying  the  "Weekly  Times."  Mr.  Gilliam  continued  this  work 
for  thirty-four  years.  He  was  Postmaster  under  Roosevelt  and  Taft, 
and  was  a  man  of  high  ideals  and  held  steadily  to  the  right  as  he 
saw  it.  He  had  much  to  do  with  the  forming  of  public  opinion  and 
was  interested  in  education  taking  an  active  part  in  securing  our  high 
school  and  always  lending  his  voice  as  an  editor  in  every  movement 
that  was  for  the  uplift  of  humanity.  He  was  devoted  to  his  church, 
the  Baptist,  a  member  of  the  I.O.O.F.  He  died  1919.  He  was  married 
to  Dimple  perkins,  who  was  born  in  Missouri,  but  reared  in  this 
county.     (For  family  see  Simpson.) 

GLASSFORD 
Samuel  M.  Glassford  was  a  native  of  Pennslyvania,  born  1825. 
He  came  with  his  parents  to  Kentucky  when  eight  years  old,  attended 
school  there  and  remained  in  that  state  until  a  young  man,  coming 
here  in  1841.  Mr.  Glassford  followed  various  pursuits,  working  with 
Belcher  Brothers  sugar  refiners  of  St.  Louis,  also  engaged  in  the 
coal  business  of  that  city.  In  1861  he  sold  his  interests  there  and 
returned  to  his  farm  in  Elvira  Township,  where  he  carried  on  a  very 
successful  farming  business  the  remainder  of  his  life.  He  also 
served  in  the  Legislature  as  a  State  Senator',  1874-76.  Mr.  Glassford 
owned  one  of  the  best  farms  in  the  county,  located  just  beyond  the 
present  site  of  West  Vienna.  He  had  more  than  eight  hundred  acres 
in  one  tract,  and  his  dwelling  and  farm  was  far  above  the  average  of 
that  time.  He  married  first  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  James  Jones  and 
she  died  in  1849,  later  he  married  her  sister,  Juliet,  and  to  them  were 
born  Josephine,  who  married  Dr.  R.  M.  McCall,  Charles  A.,  a  farmer 
of  this  county  and  Mrs.  T.  E.  Williams,  a  resident  of  St.  Louis,  Mo. 

GODDARD 
Elizabeth  Smith  Goddard  was  born  in  Berry  Brow,  England,  1825 
and  died  in  Vienna  1910.  She  was  married  to  Joshua  Smith  in 
England,  1844,  and  came  to  this  country  with  her  husband,  who  was 
a  carder  by  trade  and  had  charge  of  the  carding  machine  of  J.  B. 
Kuykendall  for  many  years.  After  his  death  she  married  a  Mr.  God- 
dard of  DuQuoin,  111.  Aunt  Betty  as  she  was  familiarly  known,  lived 
just  south  of  town  where  Joshua  Arnold,  her  grandson,  now  lives. 
She  was  loved  by  all  who  knew.  Her  children  were  Martha  (2), 
Clara  (2),  Martha  (2)  married  A.  J.  Arnold,  their  children  were 
Mary   (3),  who  married  a  Mr.  Miner  of  Divernon,  111.,  Lizzie   (3)   who 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY  383 

married  John  Harris  and  has  Arnold  (4)  and  Anna  (4).  Joshua  (3) 
married  Mary  Smith  and  had  May  (4)  who  married  Cecial  Nolan. 
They  have  two  children  and  reside  in  West  Frankfort,  111.  Joshua  (3) 
married  second  Margaret  McMahan.  Clara  (2)  married  R.  M.  Kincy. 
they  had  May  (3)  who  married  Dr.  Hoover  and  resides  in  Apple  River, 
111.,  Clara  (3)  married  a  Mr.  Matingly  and  lives  in  Phoenix,  Ariz,  and 
Ada  (3)  married  Edward  (see  Harvick).  They  reside  on  the  Harris 
Harvick  farm. 

The  Goddards  are  an  old  family  here,  coming  originally  from 
South  Carolina.  Andrew  was  the  ancestor,  according  to  the  best  in- 
formation, of  John  (2)  who  married  Susan  Casey.  A  son,  John  S., 
lives  in  Burnside  Township.  William  Goddard,  a  brother  to  Andrew 
had  children,  William  E.  (2)  Lee  F.  (2),  Ellen  (2)  who  married  John 
Russell,  Rachel  (2)  who  married  a  Mr.  Hanson.  John  Goddard  (2) 
had  children  William  (3),  Mary  (3).  William  E.  (2)  had  children 
G.  W.  (3),  who  married  Mary  J.  Whiteaker,  and  their  children  are 
Anna  (4),  Hattie  (4),  Mary  (4),  Nellie  (4),  Lilly  (4),  Elsie  (4), 
William  E.  (4),  Guy  (4),  Lee  (4).  Metta  (3)  married  Hugh  S. 
Hewitt. 

GORE 

John  Gore,  tradition  says,  was  born  in  Georgia,  and  came  to 
Kentucky  and  from  there  to  this  county  in  a  very  early  day.  He 
served  on  a  petit  jury  here  iin  1816.  He  is  always  referred  to  as 
John  Gore  and  according  to  the  best  knowledge  to  be  obtained,  had 
six  children,  namely  Thomas  (2),  Elenor  (2),  Martha  (2),  Walton  (2), 
one  daughter  who  married  William  Elkins  and  another  who  married 
Henry  Jones.  Thomas  (2)  married  Abby  Bridges  and  had  Charlotte 
(3),  Mary  (3),  Benton  and  Martha  (3).  Charlotte  (3)  married  R.  W. 
Carlton  and  had  Martha  (4)  who  married  Al  Chance,  and  had  Dolly 
(5),  Gertrude  (5)  married  Mr.  Cache,  Pauline  (5)  married  Mr.  Coch- 
ran; Crynthia  (4)  married  Charles  Wright,  John  (4)  married  Minnie 
Mc  Daniels,  Thomas  (4)  married  Flora  Rebman  (see  Slack),  Bud  (4) 
married  Mindy  Hooker  and  had  William  (5),  John  (5),  Edward  (5), 
Eva  (5).  Eva  (5)  married  Grant  Carter.  Elenor  (2)  married  Isaac 
(see  Copeland).  Martha  (2)  "Patsy"  married  W.  Y.  Davis,  an  in- 
fluential man  of  Mt.  Pisgah  neighborhood,  who  served  in  the  State 
Legislature  about  1831,  and  their  children  were  Eliza  (3),  Mary  J. 
(3)  Alexander  M.  (3),  Martha  (3),  Caroline  (3),  Elandor  (3),  William 
Y.  (3),  Elizabeth  (3),  Izora  (3).  Mary  J.  (3)  married  Millington  (see 
Smith).  Elizabeth  (3)  married  Etheldred  Jones  (see  West.  William 
Y.  (3)  married  Althia  Hawk  and  had  Frank  (4),  Roxanna  (4),  who 
married  Elmer  Deans  (see  West).  Laura  May  (4),  Charles  Ray  (4), 
W.  Y.  (4)  and  Nellie  (4).  Frank  (4)  married  a  daughter  of  Isaac 
Slack.     Laura  May  (4)   married  Oscar  Goddard.     Mrs.  Davis  and  her 


384  A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


daughter  Nellie  resides  with  her  son,  Frank  in  Oklahoma.  Alexander 
M.  (3)  married  Jennie  Newton  and  lived  in  Union  County.  Martha  (3) 
married  John  Mathis  had  one  child;  married  second  Jesse  Lowery. 
Caroline  (3)  married  William  Bradley  of  Cypress  and  had  Laura  (4), 
John  (4),  Rufus  (4)  Lilly  (4),  Agustus  (4),  William  (4),  Arlett  (4), 
Thomas  (4).  Laura  (4)  married  Sylvester  Adams  and  had  Hosea 
(5),  Dallas  (5),  Audry  (5),  Jesse  (5),  Carrie  (5),  Bessie  (5).  John 
(4)  married  Mrs.  Josephine  Brown  and  they  had  Geneva  (5).  Rufusi 
(4)  married  Josie  Boggs  and  had  Myrtle  (5)  and  Roy  (5).  Lily  (4) 
married  Aurelius  Jones,  they  have  Lester  (5),  Curtis  (5),  Hobert  (5), 
Pearl  (5),  Arnold  (5).  Agustus  (4)  married  Miss  Osborn  and  the 
children  were  Arthur  (5),  George  (5),  and  Gilbert  (5).  William  (4) 
married  first  Narvisa  Bridges  (see  Bridges) ;  married  second  Ruth 
Ragains,  and  has  Louise  (5),  Paul  (5),  Vernon  (5),  Betty  Lou  (5). 
Arlett  (4)  married  Cora  Ragsdale  and  the  children  were  Edna  (5), 
James  (5)  and  June  Victor  (5).  Walton  (2)  entered  land  in  section 
36,  Township  12,  Range  2  east,  1818.  This  land  is  now  owned  by 
John  B.  Jackson.  He  entered  another  tract  in  1839  of  forty  acres 
in  section  25,  Township  12,  Range  2  east.  He  later  moved  to  Gore- 
ville  Township.  He  married  first  Miss  Finney  and  they  had  John 
W.  (3),  who  was  born  1821  and  maried  Mary  J.  Bruff  and  they  had 
Wesley  (4),  James  (4)  born  1851,  Thomas  (4),  Martha  (4).  Wesley 
(4)  married  Miss  Walker;  they  reside  in  Champaign,  111.  James  W. 
(4)  married  Ellen  F.  Ridenhower  and  their  children  are  Olive  (5), 
Estella  (5)  married  Harry  Barkley  and  has  Dinty  (6).  James  (5) 
died  1924,  leaving  a  family  in  Longbeach,  Calif.  Olive  (5)  married 
Clyde  Webber  of  Galatia,  111.  Thomas  (4)  married  Mexico  Parish  and 
they  had  John  (5).  Thomas  (4)  married  second  Mrs.  Bivins  Shep- 
pard  and  has  two  sons.  Martha  (4)  married  John  Jones.  Walton  (2) 
married  second  Polly  Bain  and  their  children  were  Wesley  (3),  who 
married  Miss  Snow,  Thomas  B.  (3)  was  a  physician,  a  graduate  of 
the  College  of  Physicians  and  Surgeons,  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  and  practiced 
in  the  neighborhood  of  Goreville  for  fifty  years.  He  was  born  1847 
and  died  1917.  He  married  Virginia  McGeehe  and  their  children  were 
Norma  (4),  Addison  (4),  George  (4),  T.  J.  (4),  Norma  (4)  married 
Mr.  Mozeley,  George  W.  (4)  is  a  physician,  T.  J.  (4)  married  Ger- 
trude Cowan  (see  Worley),  Dr.  T.  B.  (2)  married  second  Tennie 
Haliburten  and  they  had  Charles  (4)  and  Bertha  (4).  Sarah  (3) 
married  James  M.  (see  Smith).  Amanda  (3)  married  Thomas  Hender- 
son and  had  Samuel  (4).  Martha  (3)  married  Thomas  Ballow  and 
their  children  were  James  (4),  Eli  (4),  Mary  (4),  Sarah  (4),  John  (4). 
James  (4)  married  Josephine  Grissom.  Eli  (4)  married  Markaret  Walk- 
er, they  had  Catherine  (5),  Augustus  (5),  James  (5),  May  (5),  Anna 
(5).  Catherine  (5)  married  J.  P.  Hullinger.  Augustus  (5)  married  May 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY  385 


Henderson.  James  (5)  married  Bertie  Keenen,  they  have  Glayds  (6). 
James  M.  (6),  Roy  lee  (6).  May  (5)  married  W.  G.  Jackson  and  died 
without  children.  Anna  (5)  not  married.  Mary  A.  (4)  married  Andrew 
Cox,  had  Ira  (5),  Verda  (5),  Bertha  (5),  Bessie  (5),  Evyline  (5). 
Gipsy  (5),  Ira  (5)  married  Madge  Whittenberg  (see  Chapman).  Veri*a 
(5)  married  Gertrude  McCall.  Bertha  (5)  married  Almus  (see  Veach. 
Preston  (3)  the  youngest,  married  Isabel  Canady,  and  they  had  Ida 
(4),  who  married  John  Corbit,  Myrtle  (4)  married  Orbe  Peterson  (see 
Reynolds).  Robert  (4)  married  Miss  Albright.  Effie  (4)  and  Ger- 
trude (4)  at  home. 

Jennie  Gore  was  a  pioneer  of  this  county  and  her  granddaughter, 
Mrs.  R.  J.  Copeland  says  she  was  an  aunt  to  Patsy  Davis  which  would 
mean  that  she  was  a  sister  to  John  Gore.  Jennie  (1)  married  Mr. 
Peterson  (judging  from  court  records,  his  name  was  William  (and  had 
Joshua  (2)  and  Lydia  (2).  Joshua  (2)  married  Nancy  Spence,  18315, 
and  their  children  were  William  W.  (3),  Thomas  (3),  Elizabeth  (3), 
born  1838,  Sarah  (3),  Owen  G.  (3),  Isaac  (3).  William  W.  (3)  was 
a  prominent  man  of  his  time  and  was  engaged  in  the  mercantile 
business  for  a  number  of  years  in  this  county.  He  married  Mary 
Ann  Gray  (see  Reynolds).  Thomas  (3)  married  Sarah  Martin,  Eliza 
beth  (3)  married  Francis  M.  McGee,  1857.  Sarah  (3)  married 
John  Reynolds  and  had  Amanda  (4)  who  married  Charles  Barnwell. 
Owen  G.  grew  up  in  the  West  Eden  neighborhood,  and  served  the 
county  as  assessor  and  treasurer.  He  married  Elizabeth  Dubois,  and 
their  children  were  Nora  (5),  Ruth  (5),  Nancy  (5).  He  removed 
with  his  children  to  Texas.  Isaac  (3)  was  an  M.  E.  minister  who 
died  a  young  man.  Lydia  (2)  married  William  (see  West).  Jennie 
Gore  (1)  married  second  John  Deans  and  their  children  were  W.  D. 
(2)  born  1826,  Mary  A.  (2),  Eliza  (2),  Dolly  (2),  Elizabeth  (2).  W. 
D.'  (2)  married  Mary  Axley  (see  West).  W.  D.  (2)  married  second 
Mrs.  Jane  (Peeler)  Axley  and  they  had  children  Molly  (3),  who  mar- 
ried George  Rilley.  Ida  (3)  married  L.  R.  Brady,  W.  D.  (3)  married 
Maud  Hess  (see  Chapman),  Oscar  (3)  married  Ivy  (see  Copeland). 
Charles  (3)  married  Sidney  Rose,  and  resides  on  the  Golconda  and 
Vienna  road  in  Grantsburg  township.  Mary  A.  (2)  married  William 
Carter  (see  West).  Eliza  (2)  married  Owen  Peterson  (whose  first 
wife  was  a  Mercer)  and  had  Elizabeth  (3)  who  married  Robert  Nor- 
val,  and  Ellen  (3)  who  married  John  Culver.  Eliza  (2)  married 
second  William  Norval  and  had  Josephine  (3).  Dolly  (2)  married 
James  Barton  and  the  children  were  Alice  (3)  who  married  John 
Reynolds,  Stephen  (3)  who  married  Adeline  Beggs  and  Lilly  (3) 
who  married  Thomas  Barnwell.  Elizabeth  (2)  married  Mr.  Smith 
and  had  one  son.  Elizabeth  (2)  married  second  Mr.  Washburn,  chil- 
dren Louisa  (3)  who  married  James  (see  Copeland)  Nancy  (3)  mar- 


386  A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 

ried  Richard  (see  Copeland).  Elizabeth  (2)  married  third  Henry 
Hardy  and  had  children  Jedediah  (3)  and  Lydia  (3)  who  married 
Clark  Axley.  Following  i'rom  Court  Records.  One  John  W.  Gore  mar- 
ried Helen,  died  1853.  He  owned  land  near  the  present  home  or 
Grant  Carlton  on  the  Goreville  road.  He  had  children,  Cassandra  J. 
who  married  Wilson  Brown  (2),  Lydia  Ann  who  married  Linsfield 
Shardick,  two  minor  children  Josiah  P.  and  Jacob  F.  Edward  Dooly 
was  their  guardian  and  Barnett  Gore  signed  the  bond  of  Helen. 
Josiah  P.  Gore  born  1839  was  a  resident  of  this  county  and 
was  a  son  of  John  F.  and  Elizabeth  (Penrod)  Gore,  also  residents 
here.  The  parents  of  John  F.  were  Thomas  and  Lydia  Gore  who 
were  very  early  settlers  of  Union  County.  Josiah  P.  married  Nancy 
E.  Wilhelm  and  had  children  Elizabeth,  Barnett,  Otto,  Josiah,  Cass- 
andra, Peter,  Margaret,  Rosetta.  Caroline  Gore  called  "Sisy"  was  a 
native  of  this  county  and  married  first  John  Bridges  and  had  John 
and  Ida.  She  married  second,  a  Mr.  Chapman  and  moved  from  this 
county.  Daniel  Gore  is  the  founder  of  one  branch  of  the  Gore  family 
If  Jennie  was  a  sister  of  John,  it  is  quite  probable  that  John  W. 
belonged  to  the  family  of  Daniel.  That  would  place  Jennie,  John 
and  possibly  Daniel  in  the  same  generation. 

Joshua  Gore  died  in  1820.  Jeremiah  Lisenby  and  George  Brazel 
were  the  appraisers  of  his  estate.  John  W.  Gore,  the  administrator. 
The  following  is  an  account  against  the  estate  of  Joshua  Gore: 
"one  quarter  schooling,  $2.50;  to  repairing  old  plow  share  and  making 
a  coulter  $3.75  Hezikiah  West,"  John  Bridges  took  the  acknowledge- 
ment. Joshua  Gore's  will,  "to-wit:  That  a  certain  bay  horse  then 
four  years  old  be  given  to  his  son  James  after  his  death,  and  that 
a  certain  colt,  one  year  old  last  spring  should  in  like  manner  be 
given  to  his  son,  William,  and  the  deponent  further  states  that  they 
were  present  and  heard  that  testator  pronounce  the  said  words  and 
that  they  believe  him  to  be  at  that  time  of  sound  mind  and  that  he 
•did  at  the  same  time  desire  that  such  was  his  will,  or  words  to  that 
•effect.  Signed  and  sworn  to,  November  14,  1820,  John  W.  Gore, 
Eleanor  Gore." 

John  Gore  cried  the  sale  of  William  Peterson,  Sr.,  he  put  in  a 
bill  which  was  allowed,  September,  1816.  James  Hawkins,  John  and 
Thomas  Peterson  were  the  attests.    Signed,  John  Gore. 

Some  of  this  is  tradition,  some  parts  of  it  have  been  copied 
from  the  court  records,  but  not  enough  data  could  be  gathered  tc 
trace  the  family  from  one  direct  line. 

GRAY 
J.   F.   Gray  was  born  in   this   county  in   1837.     He  was  a  son  of 
James,  who  was   a   brother   to   Basil,   one   of   the   early   residents   of 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY  387 


Vienna.  Mi.  Gray  was  at  one  time  a  partner  with  I.  N.  Pearce  in  the 
mercantile  business  in  Vienna,  he  also  helped  to  build  the  present 
courthouse.  He  went  to  New  Burnside  when  it  was  founded  and 
started  the  first  bank  in  the  county,  known  as  the  Johnson  County 
Bank,  also  engaged  in  the  dry  goods  business.  When  Burnside  be- 
gan to  decline  he  came  to  Vienna,  continuing  in  the  banking  business 
till  his  death  1896,  under  the  firm  of  J.  F.  Gray  &  Son.  He  married 
Sue  H.  Wilson  of  Kentucky  and  had  two  children,  Nellie,  who  mar- 
ried Dr.  Boyt  of  Paducah,  and  died  shortly  after.  Charles  H.  married 
Suda  Brat  ton  (see  Chapman).  He  operated  the  bank  for  a  number 
of  years  after  his  father's  death,  but  retired  and  now  lives  on  a 
farm  six  miles  east  of  Vienna  during  the  summer.  They  also  have 
a  resident  in  Vienna  which  they  occupy  during  the  winter  months. 

Alexander  J.  Gray  was  a  prominent  citizen  of  this  county,  he 
served  the  county  as  sheriff  twice,  was  a  soldier  of  the  Civil  War  in 
the  6th  Cavalry,  Republican  in  politics,  died  1924.  (For  family  see 
Smith  and  Reynolds).  He  belonged  to  one  of  the  oldest  families  of 
Revolutionary  War  from  North  Carolina.  His  son  Mid  served  in  the 
World  War. 

GRAHAM 

J.  F.  Graham  was  born  in  Marshal  County,  Tennessee,  1823. 
Family  tradition  says  his  grandfather  William  Graham,  served  six 
years  in  the  Revolutionary  War.  His  father  James  served  in  the 
war  of  1812  and  also  in  the  Seminole  war,  and  died  in  this  county 
J.  F.  served  this  county  as  circuit  clerk,  was  enrolling  officer  for 
the  militia  during  the  Civil  War,  for  this  county,  and  internal  revenue 
collector  for  this  district.  He  was  a  resident  of  New  Burnside  and 
a  member  of  the  Christian  Church.  He  married  E.  A.  Brummet,  1852. 
Their  children  are  Mrs.  J.  S.  King,  now  a  resident  of  Laramie,  Wyo. 
William  C.  of  California  and  Mrs.  Frank  White,  a  resident  of  New 
Burnside,  111. 

GRISSOM 

William  M.  Jr.,  son  of  William  M.  Grissom,  a  farmer  and  early 
settler  of  Grantsburg  township,  was  born  in  this  county  1872  and 
educated  in  the  public  schools  and  Southern  Illinois  Normal.  He 
was  a  teacher  and  farmer,  also  served  the  county  as  Superintendent 
of  Schools.  He  married  Nettie  (see  Farris).  Their  son,  Curtis  was 
killed  in  France  while  serving  with  the  A.  E.  F.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Grissom,  with  their  daughters,  Dorothy  and  Mildred  reside  in  Cali- 
fornia. 

HARKER 

O.  A.  Harker  was,  for  several  years,  a  resident  of  this  county, 
he  was  born  in  Wayne  County,  Ind.,  1846,  and  was  educated  in  the 
schools   of  Wheaton,   111.     He   enlisted   in   Company   D,    67th   Illinofe 


388  A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 

Infantry  at  the  age  of  sixteen  years,  serving  till  the  close  of  the  war. 
He  entered  McKrendree  College  at  Labnon,  111.,  graduating  in  1866. 
He  came  to  Viennia  the  following  year  as  a  teacher,  edited  the 
"Vienna  Herald"  for  a  short  time  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in 
1869.  He  practiced  law  in  this  county  for  about  ten  years,  serving 
the  county  as  judge  one  term.  He  was  appointed  to  the  Circuit 
bench  by  Governor  S.  M.  Cullom,  1878  and  was  later  elected  and 
served  on  the  first  Circuit  bench  until  1903,  when  he  was  appointed 
Dean  of  the  Law  School  of  the  University  of  Illinois,  which  place  he 
filled  till  recently  he  has  been  appointed  attorney  for  that  institution. 
He  married  Sidney  A.  (see  Bain).  They  removed  to  Carbondale  about 
1778,  later  making  their  residence  in  Champaign  where  they  still 
reside.  Judge  Harker  is  a  member  of  the  G.  A.  R.  and  I.  O.  O.  F. 
the  Fraternities  Phi  Delta  Phi  and  Theta  Kappa.  He  and  wife  have 
long  been  members  of  the  M.  E.  Church  and  are  republican  in  politics. 

HARPER 
Two  brothers,  William  and  James  Harper,  came  to  this  county 
in  1833  and  settled  near  what  is  now  Reynoldsburg.  They  were 
good  farmers,  also  took  a  great  interest  in  church  and  morality. 
James  being  a  Methodist  preacher.  William  Harper  (1)  married  a 
Miss  Morris  and  had  Goves  (2)  who  married  Sarah  Douglas,  removed 
to  White  County;  James  (2)  married  Rebecca  Rushing  and  removed 
to  Arkansas  in  1872.  William  Dean  (2)  married  Fannie  Kuykendall 
and  had  James  G.  (3),  Joseph  W.  (3),  George  Perry  (3),  Sarah  (3), 
Rosa  (3),  Lydia  (3),  Mary  Alice  (3).  James  G.  (3)  married  Hulda 
Belle  Pitman;  children  were  Harry  (4),  William  (4),  Elizabeth  (4) 
who  married  Samuel  Choat,  Charles  (4).  Joseph  W.  (3)  married 
Rachel  Casey.  They  had  George  P.  (4),  John  L.  (4),  James  (4),  Lee 
(4),  Guy  (4),  Frank  (4).  George  Perry  (3)  married  Rebecca  Russell 
and  their  children  are  Fannie  (4),  Ira  and  Orlin  (4),  Herschel  (4) 
Sarah  (3)  married  W.  R.  Hammons,  a  Methodist  minister.  Rosa  (3) 
married  West  Jobe.  Lydia  (3)  married  Ira  Covert.  Mary  Alice  (3) 
married  Joe  Hammond.  James  1,  married  Rhoda  (Jackson)  Perkins, 
mother  of  Captain  William  Perkins.  James  and  Rhoda  had  Anna 
(2),  who  married  Charles  Burnett  and  they  had  Ethel  (3),  who  mar- 
ried Marshall  Steel  and  had  Anna  Louise  (4),  Burnett  (4),  Charles 
(4),  Marshall  (4).  Sally  (2)  married  John  Ragin;  the  children  were 
Joseph  (2),  John  (2),  Daniel  (2);  Jessie  (2)  married  third  Elizabeth 
Hicks  and  raised  a  family  in  this  county;  Polly  (2)  married  Richy 
Oliver;  Cynthnia  and  Rhoda  (2)  never  married. 

HARVICK 
Jacob  Harvick's   Revolutionary  War  record   is   found   under   that 
head.     He  was  born  in  Pennslyvania  in   1752,  and  was  a  resident  of 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY  389 

North  Carolina  when  the  Revolutionary  War  broke  out  and  removed 
from  Moore  County  that  state  to  Georgia  in  1795  as  a  recommendation 
from  the  citizens  of  Monroe  county  now  in  the  possession  of  Mrs. 
T.  E.  McCall  his  great  grand  daughter  will  show  and  reads  as  follows  * 
"State  of  North  Carolina,  County  of  Moore,  Wheras  the  bearer,  Jacob 
Harvick  has  signified  to  us  his  intention  of  removing  himself  to  the 
frontiers  of  Georgia,  be  it  therefore  known  to  whom  it  may  concern, 
that  the  said  Harvick  has  been  a  resident  of  the  county  for  upwards 
of  eight  (indistinct)  *  *  *  *  citizen  supported  an  irreproachable 
character,  maintained  his  family  in  honesty  and  credit,  worthy  to  be 
received  as  a  neighbor  or  admitted  as  a  worthy  character  into  any 
Christian  society;  he  being  a  peaceable,  sober  and  ,well  disposed 
man.  Given  under  our  hands,  this  3rd  day  of  October  1795."  (Signa* 
tures  were  blurred).  Just  what  time  he  came  to  this  county  is  not 
definitely  known  but  his  son,  Martin  was  a  lieutenant  in  the  Militia 
here  1812.  He  was  no  doubt  of  German  descent  as  the  name  is 
spelled  Harwick  or  Harvick.  He  settled  on  the  farm  now  owned  by 
Charles  Taylor  in  Bloomfield  Township.  He  must  have  been  rather 
vigorous  for  a  man  of  seventy-five  as  he  was  fined  for  assault  and 
battery  in  this  county  in  1827.  His  wife's  given  name  was  Catherine 
He  died  1833.  Tradition  says  he  and  wife  died  about  the  same  time 
from  measles,  and  are  buried  in  the  Johnson  Cemetery  east  of  Vienna. 
His  grave  was  marked  as  a  Revolutionary  soldier  by  the  Daniel 
Chapman  Chapter  D.  A.  R.  1912.  Martin  Harvick,  a  son  entered  the 
land  now  owned  by  John  Sanders  and  P.  T.  Chapman  being  a  part 
owner  of  the  farm  just  east  of  the  drainage  ditch  and  the  home  farm 
of  Sanders. 

Adam,  another  son  entered  land  in  1818  now  owned  by  W.  J. 
Brown  and  N.  E.  Leonard  in  Bloomfield  Township.  His  name  ap- 
pears on  the  court  records  for  several  years  afterwards,  but  no 
other  history  of  him  or  family  can  be  traced.  Martin  Harvick  served 
in  many  responsible  positions  in  the  county  as  the  records  reveal. 
He  held  office  in  the  militia  and  was  captain  of  a  militia  district. 
"The  bounds  lying  north  of  the  waters  of  Cache  and  known  as  the 
Ponds."  He  was  known  as  Captain  Harvick.  His  granddaughter, 
Mrs.  Mary  Harvick  Damron  says  his  wife,  Nancy  Fisher  was  a 
hall  sister  to  Jack  Fisher  who  married  Lucinda  Simpson,  Sally  who 
married  a  Mr.  Fields  and  Rachel  who  married  Hight  Green.  They 
were  supposed  to  be  the  children  of  King  Fisher.  A  lawsuit  on  the 
docket  shows  Nancy  and  Martin  Harvick  among  the  heirs  who  brought 
a  suit  against  King  Fisher's  estate. 

The  children  of  Jacob  Harvick  (1)  and  Catherine  were  Martin 
(2),  Adam  (,2)  Amanda  (2)  and  two  other  daughters.  Martin  Har- 
vick  (2)  married  Nancy  Fisher  and  had  children  Elizabeth   (3),  born 


390  A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


1822,  Granville  (3),  born  1823,  Grandison  (3),  born  1825,  Adam  (3), 
born  1827,  Harrison  (3)  born  1829,  Sarah  Adeline  (3),  born  1831.  this 
far  copied  from  family  Bible).  Rebecca  (3),  Amanda  (3),  Mary  (3), 
John  L.  (3),  born  1837.     Elizabeth   (3)   never  married. 

Granville  (3)  married  Mary  Hogg  and  they  had  John  (4),  Cynthia 
(4),  both  died  in  youth. 

Grandison  (3)  married  Minerva  Cochran  and  they  had  Laura 
Jane  (4),  Otis  E.  (4),  Ann  (4),  Frank  (4),  Nell  (4).  Laura  J.  (4)  mar- 
ried James  Mathis  and  they  had  Grace  (5),  Ora  (5),  Goldie  (5), 
Francis  (5),  and  Agnes  (5).  Grace  (5)  married  Victor  Boudreau. 
Agnes  (5)  married  George  Cheery  and  has  Laura  Jane  (6).  James 
•  Mathis  with  his  daughter,  Francis  is  a  resident  of  Vienna,  111.     Frank 

(4)  married  Alice  Yow,  he  died  a  few  years  after  and  left  Charles 
(5).  Ann  (4)  married  William  Newton  and  has  Larry  (5)  who  mar 
ried  Maud  Beals  and  they  have  Christine  (6)  and  Marie  Louise  (6) 
Otis  (4)  married  Margaret  Lehman.  Nell  (4)  married  Fred  Edmonds 
and  they  have  Antonette  (5),  Paul  (5),  Fred  (5)  and  live  in  Spring- 
field, Mo. 

Adam  (3)  married  first  Martha  Hogg,  second  Amanda  Burris  and 
had  one  son,  who  died  in  youth;  and  third  Elizabeth  Alexander.  Adam 
became  a  very  rich  man  for  this  county,  and  having  no  direct  heirs, 
in  his  old  age,  he  willed  his  property  to  Samuel  Carter,  a  grand 
nephew.  After  Adam's  death  the  other  heirs  contested  the  will  and 
secured  part  of  his  estate. 

Harrison  (3)  married  Catherine  Clay  and  they  had  two  daughters, 
Mary  C.  (4)  who  married  Valetine  Nestlerodt  and  had  James  (5), 
Maud   (5),  Downey   (5),  Essie   (5),  Andrew    (5),  Morris    (5),  Harrison 

(5)  and  Fannie  (5).  James  (5)  married  Dulcia  and  had  four  children, 
Maud    (5)   married   George   Carter   and   had   Erma    (6),   Georgia    (6), 

Francis  (6).     Andrew   (5)  married  Catherine  and  moved  out 

of  the  county.  Essie  (5)  married  Carl  Cackley  and  has  three  children. 
Morris  (5)  married  Dorris  Johnson.  Harrison  (5)  married  Fay 
Carter.  Fannie  (5)  married  and  lives  at  Mayfield,  Kentucky.  Most 
of  this  family  live  at  Cypress,  this  county.  Amanda  Belle  (4)  mar- 
ried James  H.  Carter  and  has  Frances  (5),  Samuel  (5),  Lucy  May 
(5),  Harry  (5),  Frank  (5).  Fannie  (5)  married  Charles  M.  Pickens 
who  is  a  leading  merchant  of  Vienna  and  a  native  of  the  county. 
They  have  Helen  (6)  and  Frances  (6).  Samuel  (5)  married  Myrtle 
Hight  who  died  leaving  Myrtle  (6)  who  married  John  Peck  and  they 
have  Penelope  (7).  Samuel  (5)  married  second  Viola  Hight  and  has 
Mary  (6)  who  married  Dr.  John  Mour  and  has  John  (7).     Samuel  Jr. 

(6)  resides  at  home.  All  this  family  live  at  Tempe,  Ariz.  Lucy  May 
(5)  married  Dr.  T.  E.  McCall,  a  native  of  this  county,  a  graduate  of 
Rush    Medical   College,    Chicago,   who    practiced    in    this    county    sue- 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY  391 


cessfully  for  years.  They  removed  to  Phoenix,  Arizona,  about 
1919,  where  he  continues  his  profession.  Harry  (5)  who  is  employed 
in  the  revenue  department  of  the  Danville  district  married  Daisy 
Huffman  and  has  Rudell  (6)  and  Harry  (6).  Frank  (5)  married  Mabel 
Galeener  and  has  Harold  (6),  Mary  Belle  (6),  Frank,  Jr.,  (6).  Frank 
is  a  physician  of  San  Diego,  Calif.  Neal  (5)  the  youngest  resides  in 
Vienna,  married  Ethel  Veach  (see  Chapman). 

Harrison  (3)  married  second  Frances  Utley  and  they  had  David 
(4),  Mattie  (4),  Alice  (4),  Edward  (4)  and  George  (4).  David  (4) 
married  Lois  Albritten  and  had  Thurman  (5),  Ewing  (5),  Elvin  (5). 
George  (5)  and  Loren  (5)  who  married  Mabel  Mathis.  Mattie  (4) 
married  Allen  Veach  (see  Chapman).  Alice  (4)  married  Agusta 
Parker  and  has  Gladys  (5),  Beatrice  (5),  Francis  (5),  Georgia  (5). 
They  live  in  Los  Angeles,  Calif.  Edward  (4)  married  Ada  Kincey 
and  has  Francis  (5)  who  married  Buell  Carlton.  Martha  (5),  Edna 
(5),  Clara  Belle  (5),  Harrison  (5).    George  (4)  married  Lilly  Sutliff. 

Sarah  Adeline  (3)  married  Mr.  Elms  and  had  John  F.  (4)  who 
married  Mrs.  Melissa  (Scott)  Jenkins.  Rebecca  (3)  married  James 
Hogg  and  they  had  John  (4),  Nanie  (4),  Pole  (4),  William  (4),  Emma 
(4),  Edward  (4),  Horry  (4),  Harry  (4),  Mary  (4),  Maud  (4).  John 
(4)  was  a  resident  of  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  many  years.  Nanie  (4)  married 
J.  S.  Francis  and  had  Edward  (5),  Charles  (5),  Hal  (5),  Harvey  (5), 
Fay  (5),  George  (5).  Edward  (5)  married  Margaret  Wallace  of  this 
county.  Fay  (5)  married  Henry  Bengle  of  Springfield,  111.  and  has 
Francis  (6).  Mr.  Francis  moved  with  his  family  to  Springfield,  111. 
about  1898,  where  his  widow  and  children  now  reside.  Emma  (4) 
married  a  Mr.  Bankston.  Mary  (4)  married  Mr.  Jones.  Rev.  Hogg 
removed  to  Bethney,  111.  years  ago,  and  none  of  this  family  lives  in 
the  county.  Amanda  (3)  married  A.  J.  Henry.  Mary  (3)  married 
C.  N.  Damron  and  had  Cass  (4)  who  married  in  California  and  died 
in  early  manhood  leaving  three  daughters.  Flora  (4)  married  Charles 
Dunscomb  of  Bethney,  111.  and  they  removed  to  California  where  he 
owns  and  publishes  the  "Berkeley  Gazette"  and  is  quite  an  influential 
man  in  his  state.  Mrs.  C.  N.  Damron  and  Mrs.  Amanda  Henry  grand 
daughters  of  Jacob,  the  revolutionary  soldier  reside  in  San  Bernardino, 
Calif. 

Amanda  Harvick  (2)  married  Joel  Johnson,  one  of  the  earliest 
settlers  of  this  county,  they  resided  east  of  Vienna  on  a  farm  on 
which  the  Johnson  Cemetery  is  now  located.  His  name  appears 
quite  often  on  the  early  records;  he  served  on  a  jury  here  in  1814. 
They  had  Margaret,  (Peggy)  (3),  Louisa  (3),  Joel  (3),  John  C.  (3). 
Peggy  (3)  married  Henry  Cook  Howell  and  had  John  (4),  Joseph  H. 
(4),  Jennie  (4),  George  (4),  James  (4),  William  (4),  Amanda  (4), 
Pleasant   (4),  Samuel   (4),  Mary   (4),  Bell   (4),  Artaborn   (4),  Agustus 


392  A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


(4).  Joseph  (4)  married  Belle  Cummins  and  had  Walter  (5),  and 
Carl  (5).  Jennie  (4)  married  Sterling  Hollaway  and  had  Marlow 
(5),  Holly  (5),  Alvin  (5),  John  (5),  George  (4)  married  Sarah 
Shelton  and  had  Floy  (5),  Joseph  (5),  Ernest  (5).  They  reside  in 
Massac  County.  James  (4)  married  Lula  Abbott,  and  had  Daisy  (5) 
who  married  Melvin  Harris  and  they  had  Wilma  (6),  Marie  (6), 
Douglas  (6),  Esther  (6),  Donald  (6).  Wilma  (6)  married  S.  J.  C. 
Hess;  Marie  (6)  married  Robert  Veach  and  has  Roberta  (7)  and 
Mary  Lou  (7).  Douglas  (6)  married  Bertie  Shelter  and  has  Majorie 
Lee  (7).  Amanda  (4)  married  Henry  Philips.  Pleasant  (4)  married 
Fannie  Sutliff  and  removed  to  Canada.  Samuel  (4)  married  Ida  Cagel 
and  has  Orville  (6).  Mary  (4)  married  Douglas  Helm  and  has  Roy 
(5),  Lloyd  (5),  Herbert  (5),  Verna  May  (5).  Roy  (5)  married  Mabel 
Moore  and  has  Robert  (6),  Mary  (6).  Herbert  (5)  married  Louise 
Leonard.  Belle  (4)  married  Dr.  John  Wymore  and  had  Lannus  (5) 
and  Mabel  (5)  who  married  Ralph  Shelton  and  has  John  (6).  Belle 
(4)  married  second  Isaac  Debman  and  has  Velva  (5).  Artaborn  (4; 
married  Ann  Cagle  and  has  Erma  (5),  Elba  (5)  and  Frieda  (5). 
Agustus  (4)  married  Laura  Bruce  and  has  Dalmads  (5). 

John  C.  (3)  married  Melissa  Johnson  (3)  and  had  William  (4). 
Louisa  (3)  married  Thomas  Harrington,  children  Jane  A.  (4)  mar- 
ried John  James  Walker.  Benjamin  H.  removed  to  Ohio.  Mary  A. 
(4)  married  D.  C.  Huckelberry,  had  Ida  (5),  Ira  (5),  Charles  (5). 
Ida  (5)  married  M.  N.  McCartney  and  has  Marcia  May  (6)  who  mar- 
ried Sidney  Howell,  they  have  Sidney  Jr.  (7)  and  reside  in  New  York 
state.  Alabeth  (6)  is  a  teacher  in  New  York  State.  Mary  A.  (4) 
married  second  Commodore  Friganza  of  Mound  City,  111.  They  had 
Willis  (5).  Martha  A.  (4)  married  Edward  Conner  of  Metropolis,  111. 
Joseph  (4)  and  Ellen  (4)  never  married.  No  knowledge  of  Frank  (4) 
Joel  (3)  married  Miss  Simmons,  children  Sidney  (4),  Mary  (4),  and 
Ann  (4)  who  married  Frank  Gillespie,  they  had  Franklin  (5),  Dora 
(5),  Arminta  (5).  This  family  removed  to  Williamson  County.  Mrs. 
Mary  Damron,  now  living,  says  her  father,  Martin  Harvick  had  three 
sisters,  one  married  Jesse  Canady,  another  Sabert  Choat.  The  names 
of  these  men  appear  on  the  early  county  records  but  no  further  knowl- 
edge could  be  obtained  of  the  families. 

HEATON 
James  W.  Heaton  was  born  in  Kentucky  1832.  Came  to  this 
county  in  1863,  settling  in  Burnside  Township.  He  dealt  in  tobacco 
which  was  one  of  our  staples  at  that  time,  but  as  only  a  few  made 
fortunes  at  that  business  he  later  settled  down  to  farming.  In  this 
he  was  quite  successful.  He  opened  up  a  large  farm  and  built  the 
present  home  of  Norman  Casper.     He  married  Laurinda  J.   Lindsey, 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY  393 


had  children  J.  C.  B.  and  J.  W.  who  are  the  pioneer  apple  growers 
of  this  county  and  also  reside  in  New  Burnside.  Another  son,  N.  T. 
and  two  daughters,  Elmiretta  and  Effie  live  in  California.  "Uncle 
Jim"  as  he  was  familarily  called  was  a  devout  member  of  the  Baptist 
Church  and  an  uncompromising  prohibitionist.  He  was  charitable, 
conscientious  and  was  always  ready  to  defend  his  position  on  any 
married  Alice  Mathis,  they  had  Fred,  Roy  and  Jeanette.  Fred  married 
Maud  Trovillion;  their  children  are  Alice,  Pauline,  Robby,  Fred  and 
Samuel;  J.  C.  B.  married  second  Delia  Hawkins;  W.  J.  Heaton 
married  Ella  Whitnel  and  they  have  Lindorf,  Herman  and  Clara.  The 
Heaton  brothers  are  very  famous  as  fruit  growers  and  have  taken 
prizes  at  every  exposition  in  the  United  States  in  the  last  twenty-five 
years,  as  well  as  Paris,  France.  Their  orchards  are  wonderful  and  one 
is  well  paid  for  a  visit  to  them.  They  have  exemplified  the  adaptabil- 
ity of  the  Ozarks  for  orchards  and  have  set  the  pace  which  is  being 
followed  not  only  in  this  neighborhood  but  in  many  parts  of  this  and 
adjoining  counties. 

HELM 
There  seems  to  be  two  branches  of  the  Helm  family,  both  coming 
from  Tennessee.  Whether  they  sprang  from  the  same  ancestor  or 
not  is  not  known.  Thomas  Helm  was  the  head  of  one  of  these  families 
coming  here  when  his  son,  Robert  A.  was  a  youth.  The  latter  was 
a  member  of  Smith's  Battery  of  Light  Artillery,  attached  to  the  6th 
Illinois  Cavalry  and  gave  his  life  for  his  country  during  the  Civil 
War.  The  father  of  Thomas  Helm,  tradition  says,  was  a  soldier  of  the 
Revolutionary,  serving  from  Virginia  and  lost  his  life  at  the  battle  oi 
Guilford  Courthouse.  His  family  followed  the  trend  of  immigration 
and  came  to  Tennessee,  and  Thomas  Helm  Jr.,  continued  from  there 
to  Johnson  County.  He  married  a  Miss  Cowden  and  their  children 
were  Robert  A.  (2),  Leroy  (2)  and  Elizabeth  (2),  who  married  Lee 
Walker.  This  family  lives  in  the  southeastern  section  of  the  county. 
Robert  A.  (2)  married  Mary  J.  daughter  of  Thomas  Rice,  who  came 
originally  from  North  Carolina.  They  had  one  son,  Senator  D.  W. 
Helm,  who  is  a  native  of  this  County  and  the  only  surviving  member 
of  this  family.  He  was  reared  and  educated  here,  graduated  from 
Southern  Illinois  Normal,  also  the  Wesleyan  Law  School  of  Bloom- 
ington,  111.  and  located  in  Metropolis.  He  served  Massac  as  States 
Attorney  three  terms  and  has  represented  this  district  in  the  State 
Senate  several  times.  He  was  chairman  of  the  investigating  com- 
mittee to  determine  whether  William  Lorimer  had  been  legally  elected 
to  the  United  States  Senate,  which  was  known  as  the  Helm  Committee. 
He  was  a  member  of  the  law  firm  of  Courtney  and  Helm.  Senator 
Helm  married  Mary,  daughter  of  Henry  C.  Howell.  (For  family  see 
Harvick). 


394  A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


HOGG 
Rev.  J.  N.  Hogg  was  born  in  Marshall  County,  Tennessee,  1830 
and  came  tothis  coumy  with  his  parents  John  and  Elizabeth  (Wolfe), 
when  about  five  years  old.  The  other  children  were  Matildah  (2), 
who  married  W.  H.  Gage.  Louisa  (2)  married  J.  R.  McCorcle,  Susan 
(2)  married  J.  F.  Holt.  Nancy  (2)  married  Calvin  Pearce,  they  had 
Susan  (3)  who  married  James  M.  (see  Price).  Mary  E.  (2)  married 
first  G.  B.  Harvick,  second  James  Slack.  She  says  her  father  was 
a  soldier  in  the  Indian  War  and  her  grandfather  was  a  soldier  in  th-3 
Revolutionary  war.  Rev.  J.  N.  (2)  married  Rebecca  (see  Harvick). 
He  was  reared  in  this  county  and  entered  the  ministry  of  the  Presby- 
terian Church  and  preached  for  many  years,  removing  from  here  with 
his  family  to  Bethany,  111.,  about  middle  life.  There  is  a  large  fam- 
ily by  the  name  of  Hogg,  properly  spelled  Hogue  in  this  county  be- 
side those  given,  all  the  same  family,  but  different  branches.  This 
family  must  have  come  here  later  than  most  of  the  families  given  as 
their  name  is  not  found  on  the  earliest  records. 

HOOD 
James  Hood  came  to  this  county  from  Tennessee  about  the  time 
of  the  Civil  War.  He  was  a  native  of  North  Carolina  and  married 
Mary  Buie.  He  settled  near  Mt.  Pisgah  neighborhood.  Their  chil- 
dren were  Robert  (2),  Daniel  (2),  Washington  (2),  Gilford  (2),  Nel- 
son (2),  Samuel  and  Elizabeth  (2),  Sarah  (2),  Isabelle  (3),  Telitha  (2). 
Robert  (2)  married  Amanda  Ferguson,  they  had  Ann  (3),  Frank  (3), 
Mary  (3),  John  (3).  Ann  (3)  married  M.  M.  Wilkersoh,  children 
Charles  (4),  Cora  (4),  Frank  (4),  Mary  (4),  Nellie  (4),  James  (4). 
Frank  (3)  married  Zora  (see  Bridges).  Mary  (3)  married  George 
Jones,  children  Herbert  (4),  Maud  (4),  Edna  (4).  Maud  (4)  married 
Paul  (see  Phelps).  Daniel  (2)  married  Margaret  Davis,  they  had 
Charles  (3),  who  is  our  present  Coroner;  William  (3),  Hillery  (3), 
Washington  (2)  married  Martha  Sexton,  they  had  Jennie  (3)  who 
married  John  Martin.  He  married  second  Victoria  Maxey,  children 
Fred  (3),  Harry  (3).  Fred  (3)  married  Blanch  Boyt  of  Mound  City, 
where  they  reside.  Harry  married  Tate  Dougherty.  He  served  Alex- 
ander County  as  Judge.  Gilford  (2)  was  a  soldier  of  the  Civil  War. 
He  married  first  Amanda  Niblock,  they  had  Lily,  who  married  J.  C. 
Kearney;  he  married  second  Adaline  (see  Whittenberg).  Mathew  (2) 
married  Kate  Adams,  children  John  (3),  Ester  (3),  Ellen  (3),  Florence 
(3).  Samuel  (2)  married  Caroline  Jones,  children  Gussie  (3),  George 
(3).  Ella  (3),  Laura  (3),  Josey  (3),  Frank  (3),  James  (3).  Elizabeth 
(2)  married  William  Lowery.  Nelson  (2)  never  married.  Sarah  (2) 
married  Jesse  Fain.  Isabelle  (2)  married  Edward  Dooley.  Telitha 
(2)   married  James  Furguson,  children  Matildah   (3),  Dona   (3),  James 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY  395 

(3),  John  (3).  Robert  Hood  (2)  lived  to  be  ninty-one  years  old, 
farmed  in  the  south  western  part  of  the  county  all  his  life.  He  was 
a   Mason,  I.  O.  O.  F.  and  a  republican. 

HOWELL 

Just  what  lime  the  Howells  came  to  this  county  is  not  known. 
Tradition  says  the  father  was  a  resident  of  Kentucky  and  decided 
when  an  old  man  to  move  to  Missouri.  On  their  journey  the  father 
died  in  this  county  and  the  mother  and  family  concluded  to  make  this 
their  home.  That  they  were  among  the  early  pioneers  is  evident  by 
their  intermarriage  with  the  old  families.  The  brothers  and  sisters 
were,  Henry  Cook  (2),  who  married  Peggy  Johnson  (see  Harvick). 
Samuel  (2)  married  Jane  (see  Simpson).  A.  D.  (2)  married  Dulcina 
Poor,  and  had  Thomas  M.  (3),  James  (3),  Samuel  P.  (3),  Hissouri  (3) 
married  Lewis  (see  Walker).  James  (2)  married  Sarah  Rentfro. 
Joseph  (2)  married  Jane  Rentfro.  Brilla  An  n(2)  married  Joshua 
(see  Simpson).  Elizabeth  (2)  married  Mr.  Emerson.  Jane  (2)  mar- 
ried Mr.  Rentfro. 

HOWERTON 

The  Howertons  of  this  county  are  descendants  from  Benjamin 
F.  Howerton,  a  native  of  Virginia,  whose  father  it  is  said  was  a 
Colonel  in  the  Revolutionary  War.  John  W.  was  a  son  of  Benjamin 
and  was  born  in  Tennessee,  1821.  He  married  Sarah  Casey  (3), 
daughter  of  Randolph  and  settled  near  what  is  now  New  Burnside, 
1842.  They  had  Randolph  who  married  Eliza  McCuan.  John  married 
Missouri  Boozer,  Rebecca  married  Allison  Clark.  Elizabeth  mar- 
ried John  Taylor.  Ruth  married  George  Boozer  and  Sarah  married 
James  Allen.  Paul  of  New  Burnside  and  Mrs.  Minnie  Holaway  are 
children  of  John.  John  and  Randolph  were  teachers  of  this  county. 
John  is  a  resident  of  New  Burnside  and  does  the  legal  business  of  that 
village. 

HOFFMAN 

Christian  Hoffman  the  founder  of  the  Hoffman  family  in  the 
United  States  was  a  native  of  the  province  of  Hesse,  Germany,  and 
was  the  father  of  five  sons,  one  of  whom,  John,  was  indentured  to 
pay  the  passage  of  his  father's  family  to  America.  They  settled  in 
Alamance  County,  North  Carolina  which  joined  Guilford  County.  John 
Hoffman  built  a  mill  on  Back  Creek,  Alamance  County.  He  married 
a  Miss  Ingle.  He  died  about  1836.  Their  children  were  George, 
Daniel,  Christian,  John,  Jacob,  Henry  and  David.  George  married 
Eliza  Shoffner  and  they  had  nine  children  one  of  whom  was  Hillery 
who  married  Siloma  Clapp.  George  H.  Huffman  was  a  native  of 
Gilford  County,  North  Carolina  and  a  son  of  Hillary  and  Siloma.  His 
father  moved    to    western    Tennessee    and    on    account    of   his    union 


396  A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 

sympathies,  removed  from  there  to  Johnson  County,  1860.  Of  a  family 
of  several  children  all  have  left  the  county,  except  George  H..  A 
brother  resides  at  Grand  Tower,  this  state  and  a  sister  Mrs.  Alice 
Meredith  lives  in  Lincoln,  Nebraska.  Mr.  Huffman  enlisted  in  the 
Civil  War  under  Captain  Perkins  in  the  14th  Illinois  Cavalry,  which 
belonged  to  Sherman's  Army.  Their  campaign  was  mainly  in  Tennes- 
see and  Georgia,  they  were  also  on  that  famous  march  to  the  sea. 
He  was  a  prisoner  for  eight  months  in  the  historical  Andersonville, 
Libbny  and  other  prisons,  but  was  finally  taken  to  Goldsboro,  North 
Carolina,  where  he  escaped.  In  1922  he  visited  his  old  home  in  com- 
pany with  a  son  and  daughter  and  also  the  neighborhood  of  his  last 
imprisonment,  and  showed  them  the  route  of  his  escape.  They  met 
the  families  of  the  people  who  had  helped  him  in  getting  away.  Those 
who  actually  assisted  him  to  escape  have  died  or  moved  away.  He 
was  secreted  by  Lazarus  Pearson,  a  quaker,  for  seven  days,  an  dthis 
good  man  gave  him  his  exemption  papers  for  which  he  had  paid  the 
Confederacy  $500.00.  Mr.  Huffman's  companion  in  escape  was  Henry 
Preston.  The  quaker  gave  him  his  son-in-law's  papers  and  accom- 
panied by  Mr.  Pearson's  two  daughters,  they  passed  the  Confederate 
lines  with  safety.  At  the  close  of  the  war,  Mr.  Huffman  returned  to 
this  county  and  engaged  in  such  persuits  as  blacksmithing,  farming 
stock  raising  and  occasionally  operating  a  saw  mill.  He  was  unfort- 
unate in  losing  one  arm  in  an  accident  may  years  ago,  while  engaged 
in  the  latter  business.  He  was  our  county  treasurer  for  four  years. 
Recently  he  retired  from  active  business.  He  and  family  are  mem- 
bers of  the  Methodist  Church  of  Vienna  where  they  have  resided  for 
some  time.  He  is  also  a  devoted  member  of  the  G.  A.  R.  Post  there 
being  very  few  left  at  the  present  time.  He  married  Mary,  daughter 
of  Thomas  Jones,  a  member  of  one  of  the  old  families  of  the  county. 
Hoffman  is  the  correct  way  of  spelling  the  name  and  is  still  used 
by  the  families  residing  in  the  original  location,  but  the  families  of 
this  county  spell  the  name  with  a  u. 

HUFFMAN 
Charles  J.  is  a  son  of  George  H.  and  Mary  (Jones)  Huffman.  He 
is  a  native  of  this  county  and  was  educated  in  the  schools  of  this 
and  Massac  Counties.  He  served  as  deputy  Post  Master  under  W. 
H.  Gilliam  lor  some  time  and  took  up  the  study  of  law.  He  spent 
one  year  in  the  Law  Department  of  the  University  of  Illinois  and  on 
going  to  Washington,  D.  C.  as  secretary  to  P.  T.  Chapman  he  entered 
George  Washington  University  and  graduated  from  the  law  depart- 
ment of  that  school,  1907.  Since  then  he  has  maintained  an  office  in 
Vienna  and  practiced  his  profession  in  this  and  other  courts.  He 
was  elected  States  Attorney  for  the  county  1920.     He  is  a  mason  and 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY  397 

a  K.  of  P.  He  and  wife  are  Republicans,  members  of  the  Methodist 
Church  and  Egyptian  Chapter  number  thirty  O.  E.  S.  (see  Simpson). 
F.  M.  Huffman  is  also  a  son  of  the  above  named  parents.  He 
served  abroad  with  the  47th  Inf.,  4th  Div.,  was  commissioned  Lieut- 
enant in  the  51st  Inf.,  6th  Div.,  was  overseas  11  months.  He  is  one 
of  Vienna's  energetic  and  progressive  business  men,  conducts  a 
Gents  Furnishing  store  and  also  owns  quite  a  good  deal  of  reai 
estate.  He  is  a  mason,  a  republican,  a  member  of  the  Methodist 
Church  and  active  in  the  American  Legion  Post  of  Vienna.  He  mar- 
ried Nellie  Gray,     (see  Simpson). 

JACOBS 
Luther  F.  Jacobs  was  a  native  of  West  Fork  Hundred,  Sussex 
County,  Del.,  born  1832,  a  son  of  Stansberry  and  Henrietta  (White). 
Mr.  Jacobs  was  a  well  educated  man  and  taught  in  this  county  many 
years  and  also  followed  farming  and  fruit  growing.  He  served  in 
Co.  H.,  31st  111.  He  married  Francis  Short  and  they  settled  in  tne 
part  of  the  county  known  as  the  "Neck"  where  they  raised  their 
family,  namely  Charles,  Ettie,  Alice,  George,  B.  K.  and  Bertha. 

JOHNSON 
Jasper  was  a  son  of  Peter  and  Sarah  (Harell)  Johnson,  born 
In  this  county.  He  was  a  teacher  in  the  fifties  and  was  Postmaster 
in  Vienna  in  1861.  He  served  in  the  31st  Illinois  Regiment  during  the 
Civil  War.  He  removed  to  Chicago  after  the  war  where  he  reared  his 
family.     (For  family  see  Simpson). 

JONES 

Etheldred  Jones  was  among  the  earliest  settlers  of  this  county; 
he  was  of  Scotch  ancerstry,  but  whether  a  native  of  Scotland  or  North 
Carolina  is  not  known.  He  came  from  North  Carolina  to  Tennessee 
and  from  there  to  this  county.  He  had  children  Mary  (2),  Susan  (2), 
Clara  (2),  William  T.  (2)  John  (2),  Lorena  (2).  Mary  (2)  maried 
John  Wise;  Susan  (2)  married  Rayford  Pearce,  Clara  (2)  married 
Newton  Pearce.  William  T.  (2)  married  Eliza  (see  Carter).  John 
(2)  married  Jane  Smith.     Lorena  (2)  married  Have  Davidson. 

James  Jones  was  born  in  Tennessee  in  1779,  and  there  seems  to 
be  no  history  farther  back  than  that  date.  He  settled  on  what  is 
now  a  part  of  the  Oliver  farm.  The  exact  date  is  not  known,  but 
he  lived  there  in  1825.  This  farm  is  located  about  two  miles  west 
of  Vienna  and  now  owned  by  J.  C.  Chapman  and  G.  B.  Gillespie 
(1924).  James  (1)  had  a  son  by  his  first  marriage,  Henry  (2),  born 
1793,  who  tradition  says,  settled  near  the  present  site  of  Goreville  and 
is  the  ancestor  of  Thomas  M.  James  of  that  neighborhood.  James  (1) 
married  second,  Elizabeth  White  and  their  children  were  James   (2) 


398  A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


born  1801;  Bennett  (2)  born  1804;  Andrew  J.  (2)  born  1809;  Miltou 
(2)  born  1810;  William  (2)  born  1812  John  (2)  born  1813;  Polly  (2) 
born  1815;  Thomas  (2)  born  1817;  Harvey  (2)  born  1819;  Susanna 
Ann  (2)  born  1820;  Patsy  (2)  born  1823;  Lucinda  (2)"  born  1825; 
Juliet  (2)  born  1830;  Elizabeth  (2)  born  1831.  Bennett  Jones  (2) 
was  sheriff  of  this  county  many  years  ago.  Susan  Jones  (2)  married 
Samuel  Jobe  (see  Simpson).  Patsy  (2)  married  William  (see  Simp- 
son). Elizabeth  (2)  married  Samuel  Glassford,  after  her  death  he 
married  Juliet  (2)  (see  Glassford).  Thomas  (2)  married  Amanda 
(see  Simpson).  He  was  prominent  in  the  business  affairs  of 
the  county,  was  appointed  drainage  commissioner  of  this  county  in 
1852  and  served  in  the  State  Legislature  from  this  county  from  1856 
to  1858.  He  lived  in  Simpson  Township.  Family  tradition  says  Will- 
iam removed  to  Missouri  in  the  neighborhood  of  Lebanon,  no  history 
of  this  family. 

KERLEY 
Thomas  Kerley,  the  ancestor  of  the  family  in  this  county,  was 
a  native  of  North  Carolina  and  of  Irish  descent.  He  came  the  usual 
route,  living  a  while  in  Tennessee  and  then  on  to  Illinois,  in  1840.  He 
settled  in  Pope  County  and  later  came  to  what  is  known  as  "Flat- 
wood"  in  Simpson  Township.  He  married  Miss  Meredith  in  Tennes- 
see, whom  the  biographer  of  Dr.  T.  B.  Kerley  says,  raised  a  family 
of  fourteen  children  and  at  her  death  had  one  hundred  and  thirty-six 
descendants.  James  L.  Kerley  (2)  born  in  Tennessee  in  1836  was  onc- 
of  these  children.  He  was  a  progressive  and  substantial  farmer  of 
his  neighborhood  and  married  Mary  J.  McKee,  who  had  Sarah  Cath- 
erine (3),  Joseph  A.  (3),  Thomas  B.  (3)  Allen  (3),  Gilbert  (3),  and 
Hattie  (3)  who  married  a  Mr.  Ditterline.  James  L.  (2)  married 
Susan  McKee,  second  and  they  had  Hillis  (3).  Dr.  T.  B.  (3)  was 
raised  on  a  farm  and  began  the  study  of  medicine  under  Dr.  J.  H. 
Simminons,  of  Simpson.  He  later  graduated  from  the  college  ol 
Physicians  and  Surgeons  at  Keokuk,  Iowa,  1888,  and  has  practiced 
in  Simpson  and  vicinity  continuously  since.  He  also  is  interested  in 
farming  and  was  one  of  the  founders  of  the  Simpson  bank.  He 
married  Mary  E.  Simmons  and  the  children  are  Granville  L.  (3), 
who  is  a  physician  of  Denver,  Colorado;  Lindorf  L.  (3)  was  a  gradu- 
ate of  the  Bloomington  Law  School  of  this  state,  and  began  practice 
in  Chicago,  moving  his  practice  later  to  Denver,  Colorado.  He  en- 
listed in  the  World  War,  was  commissioned  Lieutentant,  served  in 
France  and  was  killed  in  a  railroad  wreck  near  Orleans,  France, 
December  5,  1918.  His  remains  were  brought  to  the  United  States 
in  1921,  and  interred  in  the  Fraternal  Cemetery,  Vienna,  111.  Delbert 
R.  (3)  is  cashier  of  the  First  Bank  of  Simpson.  He  married  Dimple 
Simpson,   and   their   children   are   Homor    (4),    Maurice    Lindorf    (4) 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY  399 


Orlin   R.    (3)    a  resident  of  Simpson,  married  Mary   Cowan   and   they 
have  Thomas  Granville   (4). 

Quillin  T.  Kerley  is  head  ot  another  branch  of  this  family  in  the 
county.  He  came  here  in  1852  and  married  Elizabeth  R.  Simmons. 
After  her  death  he  married  Fannie  Shirk.  They  had  Rebecca  (2); 
James    (2),  Jerome   (2),  Robert   (2),  Dilard    (2),  Quillin  A.    (2). 

KUYKENDALL 

Hon.  A.  J.  Kuykendall  was  a  prominent  man  in  the  medievial 
days  of  Johnson  County.  He  descended  from  a  Holland  family  who 
came  to  North  Carolina  in  Colonial  times.  Joseph,  his  father  was  a 
native  of  that  state  but  moved  to  Kentucky  with  his  brother's  family 
in  an  early  day.  Joseph  married  Mary  Taylor  of  Kentucky  and  re- 
sided there  till  1815  when  he  set  out  with  his  family  to  the  Territory 
of  Illinois.  It  was  while  enroute  to  Johnson  County  that  Andrew  J. 
was  born  1815  in  what  is  now  Hardin  County.  The  father  settled  on 
a  farm  near  the  present  site  of  Sanborn. 

The  white  inhabitants  were  very  few  in  Illinois  at  that  time  and 
most  of  them  were  in  the  southern  part  of  the  state.  Deer,  bear  and 
other  wild  game  were  plentiful.  The  opportunities  for  an  education 
were  very  meager  and  A.  J.  could  claim  only  a  course  of  three 
months  schooling.  He  applied  himself  to  study  and  began  teaching 
small  children.  He  continued  his  self  education  along  the  line  of 
law  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar,  when  he  began  the  practice  of 
law  in  Vienna,  about  1845.  Early  in  his  business  career  he  took 
active  interest  in  politics  and  served  in  the  State  Legislature  in  both 
House  and  Senate,  several  sessions,  having  been  elected  first  in  1842. 
He  had  been  a  Democrat  in  politics  supporting  Douglas  in  1860,  but. 
when  the  Civil  War  broke  out  and  Governor  Yates  called  a  special 
session  of  the  Legislature,  he  declared  himself  in  favor  of  the  pre- 
servation of  the  Union,  and  voted  for  men  and  money  to  put  down 
the  rebellion.  On  his  return  home  he  assisted  in  raising  a  regiment, 
which  became  the  famous  31st  Illinois  Volunteer  Infantry,  with  John 
A.  Logan  as  Colonel  and  A.  J.  Kuykendall  as  Major.  He  later  resigned 
his  commission  and  was  elected  to  Congress  from  this  district,  which 
was  then  the  thirteenth,  1864.  Mr.  Kuykendall  was  successful  in 
his  legal  profession  but  was  also  fond  of  farming,  and  devoted  much 
of  his  time  to  that  business,  and  stock  raising,  in  his  later  years.  He 
served  the  county  as  prosecuting  attorney  and  judge  and  was  a  help- 
ful concillor  in  many  movements  for  the  progress  of  our  county  and 
owned  interests  in  different  businesses  in  the  town.  He  owned  and 
operated  the  Star  Mill;  built  the  large  dwelling  on  the  brow  of  the 
hill  on  West  Main  Street,  known  as  the  Blanchfill  Place.  He  later 
built  a  handsome  residence  just  south  of  town  where   he   spent  his 


400  A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 

decling  years.  He  married  Cynthia  (see  Simpson).  Joseph  Kuy 
kendall,  the  pioneer  had  James  (2),  Andrew  J.  (2),  and  a  daughter 
who  married  a  Mr.  Smith  and  removed  from  the  county.  Joseph 
married  second  a  Miss  Cooper  and  their  children  were  Joseph  (2), 
Mrs.  James  Peterson  (2),  Mrs.  H.  Taylor  (2),  Mrs.  Hood  (2),  Fannie 
(2),  who  married  Dean  Harper  and  Mrs.  Giles  Taylor  (2).  (See 
Taylor). 

J.  B.  Kuykendall  is  a  native  of  this  county  and  a  son  of  Majoi 
A.  J.  and  Cynthia  (Simpson)  Kuykendall.  He  was  born  near  Tunnel 
Hill  in  1842,  and  enlisted  in  Company  D.,  31st  Illinois  Volunteer,  1861, 
when  very  young.  He  served  as  adjutant  of  his  regment  with  the 
army  of  the  Tennessee,  and  took  part  in  the  battles  of  Belmont.. 
Jackson  and  the  sieges  and  capture  of  Vicksburg.  He  was  later 
placed  with  Shermans  command  and  honorably  discharged  as  a  lieut- 
enant in  1864.  He  began  soon  after  the  war  as  a  merchant  in 
Vienna,  but  later  entered  the  milling  business,  which  he  followed 
more  than  fifty  years.  He  is  at  this  writing  a  very  active  man  of 
eighty-two  years.  He  retired  several  years  ago  when  his  mill  was  de- 
stroyed by  fire,  from  a  very  successful  career.  He  is  a  Mason, 
a  republican,  and  he  and  wife  are  members  of  the  M.  E.  Church. 
For  family  (see  Simpson). 

LADD 

Milton  Ladd  was  prominent  in  public  affairs  in  our  early  history. 
He  was  said  to  be  a  minister,  but  his  denomination  is  not  known. 
He  was  commissioned  to  survey  land  at  different  times  by  the  county. 
His  mother  was  the  daughter  of  Elisha  Reynolds.  The  only  othei 
knowledge  of  his  family  is  that  he  had  a  daughter,  Nancy,  born  in 
this  county,  1824.  She  married  J.  M.  Davdige  in  1840,  a  lawyer 
reared  in  Louisville,  Kentucky,  and  who  resided  in  Vienna  a  short 
time,  prior  to  1843,  but  removed  to  Pulaski  County,  near  what  is 
now  Olmstead.  His  father  was  Razin  Davdige,  also  a  lawyer  of 
Kentucky.  The  mother  of  the  Drs.  Whitnel  who  came  to  this  county 
from  Kentucky,  was  a  Ladd,  but  it  is  not  known  if  they  were  con- 
nected with  this  family.  Another  daughter  of  Milton  Ladd  married 
Jackson  Simpson,  when  he  was  past  middle  life. 

LAUGHLIN 
Reverend  Reuben  Wilson  Laughlin  was  born  1831  in  Caldwell 
County,  Kentucky  and  came  with  his  parents  to  Johnson  County 
when  six  years  old.  He  was  converted  when  only  seven  years  of 
age,  and  when  sixteen  he  received  a  clearer  vision  of  what  it  meant 
to  be  a  Christian,  which  profession  he  followed  his  long  and  examp- 
lary  life.  He  united  with  the  M.  E.  Church  and  was  licensed  to 
preach  at  Old  Reynoldsburgh   1854.     Rev.  E.   Joy  was   the  presiding 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY  401 


elder.  Father  Laughliii,  as  he  was  known,  served  twenty-three  differ- 
ent charges  and  often  filled  the  pulpit  after  he  was  superannuated.  He 
was  the  oldest  member  of  the  Southern  Illinois  Conference,  at  his 
death.  He  married  Nancy  Triplett  who  was  born  in  South  Carolina, 
1829.  They  lived  together  sixty-six  years,  and  died  on  the  same 
day,  Jan.  25,  1917,  at  Vienna,  111.  Their  children  were  E.  J.  who 
resides  in  Max,  Neb.,  G.  E.  lives  at  Malvern,  Iowa,  Mrs.  P.  E.  Curlee 
resides  at  Pine  Bluff,  Ark.  Mrs.  May,  wife  of  John  F.  Cavitt  resides 
at  Tunnel  Hill  and  has  Ruth.  Rev.  and  Mrs.  Laughlin  reared  their 
granddaughter,  Gail,  who  married  Alonzo  Ramey  and  resides  in 
Vienna,  111. 

LAWRENCE 
The  Lawrences  are  an  old  and  large  family  of  New  Burnside 
community.  They  came  here  before  the  war.  Henry,  Newton  and 
William  were  brothers.  Two  of  the  second  generation  were  Frank 
who  married  Miss  Morray,  a  daughter  of  Captain  J.  B.  and  Lem  as 
he  was  known  who  married  Phoebe  Dalton.  Dave,  Ray  and  Frank 
are  of  the  younger  generation  still.  Some  of  the  second  generation 
served  in  the  Civil  War.  The  family  lines  could  not  be  traced  out. 
They  were  influential  and  widely  known  citizens.  The  Grand  Army 
Post  at  New  Burnside  was  named  in  honor  of  William  Lawrence. 

LAYBOURN 

H.  C.  Laybourn  was  a  native  of  Ohio,  moved  to  Burnside  in 
1889.  He  served  in  Co.  A.,  66th  Ohio  in  the  Army  of  the  Potomac 
and  was  wounded  at  Peach  Tree  Creek  in  1864.  He  was  the  corre- 
spondent for  the  county  newspaper  from  New  Burnside  for  many 
years,  was  a  great  Sunday  School  worker  and  held  office  in  the 
Johnson  County  Sunday  School  Association  twenty-five  years.  He 
married  (first)  Sarah  L.  White  of  Ohio,  they  had  Albertie,  who  mar- 
ried T.  J.  Matthews,  and  Dr.  C.  W.  Laybourn  who  was  for  many 
years  connected  with  the  Haley  Eye  Infirmary  of  Centralia,  111.,  but 
is  now  a  resident  of  California.  He  married  (second)  Julia  Lambert, 
and  had  one  daughter,  Mrs.  George  W.  Shelton  of  Leadford,  111.  He 
died  1923. 

LOONEY 

Honorable  W.  A.  Looney  was  a  prominent  physician  of  Vienna 
who  was  born  in  Henry  County,  Tennessee  in  1831.  His  father  W. 
E.  was  born  in  North  Carolina  and  was  a  son  of  Samuel,  who  it  is 
believed,  was  a  native  of  Ireland,  emigrating  to  this  country  from 
the  Isle  of  Man.  The  parents  of  W.  A.  moved  to  Mississippi  where 
his  father  died  when  he  was  two  years  old.  His  mother  returned 
to  Tennessee,  later  married  David  T.  Whitnel  and  removed  to  Ken- 


402         A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


tucky.  She  was  a  well  educated  woman  and  during  her  widowhood 
taught  school  and  Dr.  Looney  received  his  first  lesson  from  his 
mother.  He  came  to  Illinois,  1855,  teaching  school  in  Williamson 
County,  to  earn  money  to  further  his  medical  education.  He  graduated 
from  Rush  Medical  College,  Chicago,  1865,  but  began  his  career  as  a 
physician  in  Williamson  County,  1857.  In  1861  he  raised  the  Urst 
company  of  soldiers  from  Williamson  County,  which  became  Com- 
pany C.  of  the  31st  Illinois.  He  was  elected  Captain  of  this  company, 
and  was  severely  wounded  at  the  battle  of  Belmont,  but  he  rejoined 
his  company  in  time  for  the  siege  of  Corinth,  but  was  soon  after 
discharged  on  account  of  disability.  He  came  to  Vienna  1862  and 
in  1864  was  elected  to  the  Legislature.  He  voted  for  War  Governor 
Yates  for  United  States  Senator.  Dr.  Looney's  practice  in  this 
county  extended  over  a  large  territory  and  he  gave  many  years  of 
helpful  service  to  his  community.  He  married  Rachel  Caldwell  of 
Kentucky,  1856  and  had  J.  E.  (2)  a  merchant  of  Tishomingo,  Okla., 
who  married  Mollie  Ausbrooks  of  this  county,  they  have  William 
(3),  Grace  (3)  and  Jessie  (3).  William  and  Jessie  live  with  their 
families  in  Tishomingo  and  Grace  married  a  Mr.  Ide  and  resides  in 
St.  Paul,  Minn.  Dr.  J.  T.  (2),  a  physician  of  Tishomingo  married 
Fannie  Jones  of  this  county  (see  Simpson).  Fannie  E.  (2)  married 
J.  E.  Cunningham  of  Vienna,  and  has  Charles  E.  (3),  a  business  man 
of  Oklahoma  City,  Okla.  and  Robert  (3)  a  student  of  the  Vienna  High 
School.  Dr.  W.  A.  (1)  married  second  Mariah  (Oliver)  Slack  and 
third  Fannie  E.  Whitehead,  1886,  they  had  Esther  (2)  who  married 
I.  W.  Dill  and  resides  in  Carbondale.  Joseph  W.  (2)  married  Norma 
Veach  and  is  a  business  man  of  Detroit,  Mich.  Harold  (2)  is  in  the 
real  estate  business  at  Carbondale  and  resides  there  with  his  mother. 
Dr.  W.  A.  Looney  was  a  member  of  the  M.  E.  Church  and  a  most 
helpful  one.  He  was  a  mason  and  a  member  of  fhe  G.  A.  R.  Post 
at  Vienna.     He  died  1903. 

MADDEN 
Nancy  Spence  was  born  in  Tennessee,  1818,  and  came  to  Union 
County  with  her  parents  when  a  small  child.  She  first  married 
Joshua  Peterson  (see  Gore)  1833  and  came  to  West  Eden  neighbor- 
hood to  make  her  home.  After  the  death  of  Mr.  Peterson  she  mar- 
ried Locklin  L.  Madden  an  Indianian  by  birth  and  a  teacher  by  pro- 
fession. Her  only  child  by  Mr.  Madden  to  reach  the  adult  age  was 
Ruth  who  married  Frank  J.  (see  Chapman).  Aunty  Madden  came 
to  Vienna  as  a  resident  before  the  seventies.  She  was  a  woman  of 
courage  and  high  ideals  and  was  a  devoted  member  of  the  M.  E. 
Church  having  been  christened  by  Peter  Cartwright.  She  lived  many 
years  in  the  shadow  of  the  church  and  rarely  missed  a  church  service. 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY  403 


MAHL 
Henry  Mahl  is  a  native  of  Germany  but  has  lived  in  this  county 
since  childhood.  He  has  been  employed  in  and  kept  a  harness  shop 
here  for  years,  succeeding  his  step-father,  Charles  Knopp  and  has 
been  in  business  probably  longer  than  any  other  merchant  here  at 
the  present.  He  is  a  genial  and  obliging  citizen.  He  married  Matildah 
Linberg,  a  native  of  Sweeden;  they  have  Charles,  Helen  and 
Edward.  Dr.  Charles  Mahl  served  in  the  World  War  and  is  a  gradu- 
ate of  Vienna  High  School  and  the  Chicago  Veterinary  School  and 
practices  his  profession  in  this  and  adjoining  counties.  He  married 
Lilian  Rosenbarger.  Helen  is  a  graduate  of  the  Vienna  Township 
High  School  and  the  Southern  Illinois  University  and  was  a  teacher 
for  several  years.  She  married  Curtis  Stover  a  verteran  of  the 
World  War  and  by  profession  a  mining  Engineer;  they  have  James 
and  reside  in  Miami,  Oklahoma.  Edward  is  a  graduate  of  the  Town- 
ship High  School  and  makes  his  home  with  his  parents. 

MANGUM 
Henry  L.  Mangum  was  born  in  North  Carolina  1814,  and  cam^ 
to  this  county  very  early  in  its  history,  settling  on  a  farm  in  Elvira 
Township,  where  he  spent  the  remainder  of  his  life.  He  first  married 
Elizabeth  Barnett,  1832,  who  was  a  native  of  Tennessee.  His  children 
were  William  (2),  who  was  a  Presbyterian  minister,  preaching  in  this 
county  many  years.  He  married  first  Jane  Standard  and  had  Eliza- 
beth (3),  Belle  (3),  who  married  Mr.  Pulley  and  lives  at  Stone  Fort, 
111.  William  (2)  married  second  Sarah  (Copeland)  Utley  and  their 
children  were  Alice  (3),  William  (3),  Charles  (3)  and  Minnie  (3). 
George  W.  (2);  Andrew  J.  (2)  born  1836  married  Alice  Casper,  and 
they  raised  a  family  in  this  county;  a  son,  Elsworth  (3),  resided  at 
Wayside,  a  settlement  in  Elvira  Township;  H.  Y.  (2)  was  a  native 
of  this  county  and  served  in  the  31st  Illinois  Volunteer  during  the 
Civil  War.  He  later  fitted  himself  for  a  physician  and  located  with 
his  family  in  Massac  County,  where  he  practiced  many  years.  He 
married  Elmira  Jobe  and  their  children  were  William  (3),  who  mar- 
ried Lucretia  Smith.  He  is  a  physician  of  Bridgeport,  Illinois  and 
served  as  Captain  with  the  A.  E.  F.  in  France.  Ella  (3)  married 
Charles  (see  Copeland).  Other  children  of  Henry  and  Elizabeth 
were  Thomas  S.  (2),  Basil  G.  (2),  John  W.  (2),  Henry  F.  (2),  Eliza- 
beth (2),  Martha  (2).  H.  L.  Mangum  married  second  Mrs.  Regina 
Barringer,  and  their  children  were  Otis  O.  (2),  Belle  (2),  Charles 
(2),  Lilly  (2).     Martha  (2)  married  James  M.     (see  Taylor). 

MARBERRY 
Wililam  Marberry  came  to  this  county  from  Alabama  some  time 
before   the  Civil   War.     He   lived   here   many   years   and   was   ninety- 


404  A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


eight  when  he  died  having  been  born  about  1823.  He  was  noted  for 
his  marksmanship,  enjoyed  hunting  and  killed  squirrels  after  he  was 
ninety-two  years  of  age.  A  man  of  fine  character  and  influence.  He 
married  Drucilla  Daniels  and  their  children  were  Wiley  (2),  born 
1847,  James  (2),  William  (2)  (called  Bud),  John  L.  (2),  Tennie  (2), 
Wiley  F.  (2)  was  a  prominent  Methodist  and  influential  man  and  was 
serving  the  county  as  Assessor  and  Treasurer  at  the  time  of  his 
•death.  He  served  in  the  Civil  War  in  Company  K  of  the  Kentucky 
Cavalry.  He  resided  on  a  farm  near  Reevesville  until  his  election, 
when  he  moved  to  Vienna.  He  married  Missouri  Garett  1866  and 
their  children  were  Amanda  (3),  who  married  Charles  Stevenson  and 
had  issue,  Florence  (4)  who  married  Ed.  Doughterty,  Ethel  (4),  mar 
ried  Wendel  Cummins,  May  (4)  married  Dr.  Robert  Marshall.  Grant 
(3)  married  Laura  Reed,  they  had  Carrie  (4),  who  married  Edward 
Hubbard,  Clara  (4)  married  Looney  Gray,  Alma  (4)  married  Alfred 
Radlof.  Charles  (3)  married  Luia  Ryan,  they  had  Minnett  (4), 
Jeannett  (4)  and  lives  in  Oklahoma.  Franklin  (3)  married  Ruth  Mc 
Call.  Ivy  (3)  married  Mabel  Hodge.  Jennie  (3)  married  Henry  Mc- 
Clanahan.  Bertha  (3)  married  Dr.  William  Thompson  of  Cypress, 
111.,  and  they  have  William  Glen  (4),  Berneta  May  (4)  and  Mary  Sou 
(4).  Tenny  (3)  at  home.  James*  (2)  reared  his  family  in  the  neigh- 
borhood where  he  was  born,  was  a  good  farmer,  always  active  and 
interested  in  the  church  and  any  movement  that  was  for  the  good  of 
the  community.  He  married  Mary  Ann  Cummins  and  their  children 
were  William  T.  (3),  who  married  Myrtle  Brewer;  J.  Oscar  (3)  mar- 
ried Florence  Edmiston,  is  a  teacher,  residing  in  Rockford,  111.,  Eliza- 
beth (3)  married  George  A.  Dunn,  a  Methodist  minister  of  Vandalia, 
111.  Daniel  (3)  married  Myrtle  Parker  she  died  leaving  James 
(4),  Catherine  (4).  C.  W.  married  Jeannet  Austin.  Maud  (3)  at  home. 
Ruth  (3)  married  B.  N.  Beane;  Ethel  (3)  married  F.  P.  Nixon;  Harry 
L.  (3)  married  Ila  Morgan,  resides  in  Carbondale,  111.;  Jason  M.  (3) 
married  Edna  Cowling,  is  a  resident  dentist  also  of  Carbondale.  James 
Marberry  moved  to  Massac  County  several  years  ago,  residing  in 
Metropolis.  William  (2)  (Bud)  married  Caroline  Harmon,  and  their 
children  were  Anna  (3),  John  (3),  Leonard  (3),  Frank  (3),  Adah 
(3),  Ward  (3).  Anna  (3)  married  Albert  Cagle,  children  William  (4), 
Eva  (4);  John  (3)  married  Margaret  Gifford,  children  Leonard  (4). 
Violet  (4);  Leonard  (3)  married  Buelah  Lindsey;  Frank  (3)  married 
Birdie  Robins;  Ward  (3)  married  Minnie  Shinn;  Ada  (3)  at  home. 
John  (3)  married  second  Olive  Tune;  William  (2)  was  a  farmer  of 
this  county  living  here  all  his  life  and  was  esteemed  by  all  who 
knew  him.  He  died  in  1923.  Tennie  (2)  married  W.  J.  Reed;  John 
L.  (2)  married  Emma  Glass  and  their  children  are  Lucas  (3),  who 
married   Lelia  Beetel;    Ray    (3),   Paul    (3)    married   Bessie   Wormack, 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY         405 


Frank   (3)    and  Nellie    (3);    John   L.  is  a  prosperous   and  dependable 
citizen  of  this  county  and  resides  on  the  home  farm. 

MATHIS 

Honorable  J.  Mathis  was  a  teacher  of  this  county  for  several 
years,  served  as  deputy  sheriff  one  term  and  represented  this 
district  in  the. State  Legislature  twice.  He  was  assistant  cashier  of  the 
First  National  Bank  during  the  World  War  and  was  appointed  post- 
master under  President  Harding.  He  was  born  on  a  farm  in  Bloom- 
field  township,  1867  and  was  the  son  of  Robert  D.  and  Lucinda 
(Fairless)  Mathis.  The  first  one  known  of  this  family  was  John. 
His  son  was  also  named  John  and  was  a  native  of  Virginia,  but 
emigrated  to  Kentucky  and  while  a  resident  of  Trigg  County,  that 
state  married  Brown  and  came  to  Randolph  County,  111.,  in  1846. 
William  Mathis  was  a  son  of  John,  who  migrated  to  Johnson  County 
in  1849,  with  his  wife  who  was  Cinthia  Scott  and  four  children.  They 
brought  their  wordly  possessions  in  a  cart  drawn  by  oxen,  and  took 
up  government  land  in  Bloomfield  Township,  where  he  spent  the 
remainder  of  his  life.  Their  children  were  Robert  D.  (2),  Elizabth 
E.  (2),  John  B.  (2),  Margaret  A.  (2),  Robert  D.  (2)  was  born  in 
Kentucky  in  1836,  being  thirteen  years  old  when  his  parents  brought 
him  here.  His  wife  Lucinda,  was  a  daughter  of  Robert  and  Mahala 
(Buchanan)  Fairless  of  Gallatin  County,  111.  Their  children  were 
John  B.  (3),  George  W.  (3),  Alonzo  F.  (3)  and  Lilly  J.  (3).  John  P.  (3) 
married  Elizabeth  Whiteaker  and  their  children  are  Evelyn  (4)  and 
Kathryn  (4);  George  W.  (3)  is  a  farmer  residing  in  Bloomfield  and 
married  Minnie  Morray  and  their  children  are  Gussie  (4),  who  mar- 
ried Earl  Downing,  Alvin  (4),  who  served  in  France  with  the  A. 
E.  F.  and  is  a  student  of  medicine  at  the  Illinois  University.  Cath- 
erine (4)  married  Guy  Davis;  Mabel  (4)  married  Lorin  Harvick; 
Archie  (4)  is  a  student  at  the  University  of  Illinois;  George  (4), 
Wayne  (4),  John  H.  (4),  Marjory  (4)  and  Geneva  (4).  Alonzo  F.  (3) 
is  a  farmer  of  this  county  and  resides  in  Vienna.  He  married  Sadie, 
daughter  of  C.  L.  and  Catherine  Westman.  Their  children  are  Ward 
(4),  who  married  Gladys  Shettler  and  they  have  Ward  J.  (5),  James 
J.  (5);  May  (4)  married  Fred  Sloan;  Robert  (4),  Frank  (4),  Helen 
(4),  Westman  (4)  and  Marshall  (4);  Lilly  (3)  married  W.  A.  Elkins, 
they  had  James  R.  (4),  Clarence  (4)  and  Robert  (4). 

Wiley  Mathis,  the  first,  came  from  North  Carolina,  lived  a  while 
in  Tennessee  and  from  there  to  Illinois,  just  what  time  is  not  known 
but  from  early  records  of  the  county  he  lived  here  in  1835.  He  set- 
tled in  the  section  of  the  county  east  and  perhaps  a  little  south  of 
Vienna.  His  wife's  given  name  was  Lucretia.  Their  children  were 
Wiley   (2),  Richard  (2),  Jane  (2),  Amanda  (2),  Mary  (2).     Wiley  (2) 


406         A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


married  Caroline  Flynn,  they  had  Ferdinand  (3),  Abraham  (3), 
Richard  (3),  Thomas  (3),  Amanda  (3),  Harriet  (3),  Minerva  (3), 
Sidney  (3).  Ferdinand  (3)  married  Rebecca  Clay,  their  children  were 
Calvin  (4),  who  married  Etta  Simmons  and  has  Lowand  A.  (5) ;  Alonzo 
(4)  married  Alice  Reed;  Oma  (4)  married  Claud  Hogue  and  has 
Marie  (5),  Clement  (5),  Violet  (5),  Helen  (5),  Claud  (5),  Alton  (5); 
Izora  (4)  married  George  Menly  and  has  Edna  (5);  Alfred  (4)  not 
married;  Nellie  (4)  married  Joseph  Elkins  and  has  Genevive  (5), 
Raymond  (5),  Hannah  (5);  Loyd  (4)  married  May  Robinson  and  has 
Loyd  (5),  Joseph  (5),  Evyline  (5),  James  Ferdinand  (5);  Abraham 
(3)  married  Winifred  Legate.  They  have  Fred  (4),  Joseph  (4),  Dora 
(4),  Charles  (4),  Clarence  (4),  and  Samuel  (4);  Thomas  (3)  married 
Cora  Farmer.  They  had  Horace  (4),  Fred  (4)  Myrtle  (4),  Elizabeth 
(4),  Paul  (4);  Richard  (3)  married  Julia  Farmer,  they  had  Wiley  (4). 
Daniel  (4),  Nonnie  (4),  Lydia  (4),  Clifton  (4),  Julia  (4);  Sidney  (3) 
married  Frank  Fisher.  They  had  Eunice  (4),  Minnie  (4);  Amanda 
(3)  married  first  Mr.  Stephens,  second  Mr.  Parrody;  Harriett  (3)  mar- 
ried John  Kelly;  Minerva  (3)  married  Mr.  Barnett  and  had  Gussie  (4); 
Richard  (2)  married  Matilda  Morris,  they  had  Susan  (3),  Elizabeth 
(3),  Mahala  (3),  Alice  (3),  Isabell  (3),  James  (3),  Calvin  (3),  Gran- 
ville (3),  D.  W.  (3).  Elizabeth  (3)  married  James  Hogg,  they  had 
Edward  (4),  Curtis  (4),  Otis  (4),  Claud  (4),  Daisy  (4),  Matilda  (4). 
Edward  (4)  is  an  M.  E.  minister  belonging  to  the  Southern  Illinois 
Conference.  He  married  Miss  Galagah  and  has  Charles  (5),  Laura 
(5),  Ola  (5);  Curtis  (4)  married  Lula  Penn,  they  had  Truman  (5); 
Otis  (4)  married  Dora  Mohler,  they  have  Cyril  (5),  Gertrude  (5), 
Illma  (5),  Edgar  (5);  Claud  (4)  married  Oma  (4)  (see  Mathis); 
Daisy  (4)  married  Thomas  Watson  and  has  Dorothy  (5),  Gertrude  (5), 
Thomas  (5) ;  Matildah  (4)  married  Willis  Ragsdale  and  has  Ralph 
(5),  Gathel  (5),  Rheba  (5);  Alice  (3)  married  J.  C.  B.  Heaton,  they 
had  Fred  (4),  Roy  (4);  Mahala  never  married;  Isabell  (3)  not  mar 
ried;  James  (3)  married  Laura  Jane  (see  Harvick) ;  Granville  (3) 
married;  Calvin  (3)  married  Elizabeth  Pearce;  D.  W.  (3)  mar- 
ried Alice  Hankins,  ehtir  children  are  Clifford  (4),  Ralph  (4). 
Morris  (4)  Kate  (4),  Ernest  (4),  Frank  (4),  Thelma  (4),  Alice  F.  (4). 
Ralph  (4)  married  Mary  Ragains,  they  had  Harriet  (5);  Morris  (4) 
married  Eunice  Pancoast;  Kate  (4)  married  John  Rhodes  and  has 
John  Jr.  (5);  Ernest  (4)  is  an  M.  E.  minister;  he  married  Lyndall 
(see  Chapman).  The  other  children  are  at  home.  Susan  (3) 
married  Addison  Gillespie,  they  had  Samuel  (4),  Paralee  (4),  Dora 
(4).  Samuel  (4)  married  Rosa  (see  Veach) ;  Dora  (4)  married  James 
(see  Cummins).  Jane  (2)  married  Jackson  Rose;  Mary  (2)  married 
Mathew   Rose,   children    Sarah    (3),  Henry    (3)    Franklin    (3),   Dudley 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY  407 


(3);   Amanda   (2),  Sarah    (2).     One  of  the   two  latter  married  a  Mr. 
Hawkins. 

MILLS 

Charles  W.  Mills  is  a  native  of  this  county.  His  father  Elihu 
came  here  from  Tennessee,  1847  and  settled  in  the  southeast  part  of 
the  county.  Elihu  married  Mary  Huston  and  their  children  were 
Margaret  who  married  a  Mr.  Dixon;  P.  N.  and  Albert  W.  who  are 
larmers  of  Grantsburg  Township;  Otto  is  a  teacher  and  also  farms 
on  the  old  homestead;  Charles  W.  has  served  as  circuit  clerk  of  this 
county,  and  is  a  resident  and  business  man  of  Vienna.  He  married 
Flora  Luna  and  they  have  Mary,  Louis,  Geneva,  Charles  and  Alpha 
O. 

MODGLIN 

Modglin  is  a  prominent  family  of  Simpson  and  Grantsburg  Town- 
ships. The  founder  was  Benton,  who  was  born  in  Wilson  County, 
Tenn.,  and  came  here  at  an  early  day  and  secured  government  land. 
He  married  Martha  Haley  also  a  native  of  Tennessee.  Their  children 
were  Pleasant,  Nancy,  Martha,  Joseph,  William,  Benton,  and  James 
F.  William  married  Rachel  E.  Simmons,  a  native  of  Missouri  in 
1853.  Her  father  was  Lewis,  also  an  early  settler  here;  he  was  a 
native  of  Tennessee  but  came  to  this  county  in  1836,  settling  in 
Simpson  Township.  The  children  of  William  and  Rachel  were  Nancy 
J.  who  married  W.  J.  Miller;  Sarah  C.  married  A.  B.  Howell;  Fannie 
B  .married  W.  B.  Bivens;  Ida  M.  married  Leonard  Whitesides.  Joseph 
Modglin,  whose  wife  was  Edna  had  children  Rodah  E.  who  married 
T.  J.  (see  Murray);  one  daughter  married  a  Mr.  Broadway;  George 
resides  at  Creal  Springs;  Charles  resides  in  this  county. 

MOORE 
William  Moore  began  his  life  work  on  a  farm  but  removed  to 
Vienna  many  years  ago,  and  entered  the  business  world.  Having  been 
left  and  orphan  at  an  early  age,  he  was  handicapped  in  a  way  for 
lack  of  education,  but  has  made  quiet  a  success  in  business.  He 
began  in  a  small  way  and  has  been  engaged  in  many  different  occupa- 
tions, grocer,  drygoods  merchant,  farmer  and  stock  raiser,  and  at 
present  operates  a  large  farm  just  west  of  Vienna.  He  married 
Nanny  J.  Boardman,  they  had  Ernest  (2),  who  married  Arista  Frizzel 
and  died  when  a  very  young  man,  leaving  two  sons,  Len  Wallen  and 
Ernest  Jr.;  Myrtle  (2)  married  F.  C.  Thomas,  who  is  an  abstractor 
of  land  titles  and  is  one  of  Vienna's  substantial  citizens. 

MORGAN 
The  Morgans  were  a  large  family  who  came  originally  from  Vir- 
ginia  to   Tennessee   and    on    to   Illinois   during  the   Civil   War.      The 


408         A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


father  of  the  family  in  this  county  was  Pleasant  M.  (1),  who  lived 
in  Tennessee,  his  children  were  Thomas  (2)  who  married  Nancy  Dale 
children,  Wm.  R.  (3),  Albert  (3),  Emmerson  (3),  Emma  (3),  Geo.  (3), 
Isaac  (3),  all  have  families  and  reside  in  Massac  and  Johnson  Coun- 
ties. B.  R.  Morgan  (2)  was  a  prosperous  farmer  of  Vienna  Township. 
He  married  Jalia  Lemon  and  their  children  were  Pleasant  (3),  Francis 
(3),  (Coo),  Orlando  (3),  Alice  (3),  Richard  (3),  Thomas  (3),  Olivia 
(3);  Orlando  Morgan  (3)  is  an  attorney  and  has  been  a  resident  of 
Vienna  since  early  manhood,  beginning  his  career  as  a  lawyer  at 
this  place.  He  is  well  and  favorably  known  throughout  the  county, 
having  been  elected  twice  to  the  office  of  States  Attorney,  and  also 
to  that  of  county  judge.  He  married  Addie,  daughter  of  Rev  Green 
Smith  ,of  Massac  County.  She  was  known  for  her  loyality  to  her 
church,  the  Baptist,  her  usefulness  to  the  community  and  her  love 
able  disposition.  She  died  1923  leaving  Elizabeth  (4),  who  married 
E.  Davis  of  Sedalia,  Mo.;  Benjamin  (4)  a  student  at  the  University 
of  Illinois.  Thomas  (3)  is  a  physician  and  after  following  his  pro- 
fession several  years  at  Goreville,  removed  to  Humbolt,  111.,  where  ne 
continues  his  practice.  He  married  Charlotte  Ricinger,  of  Massac 
County.  Julia  (2)  married  Allen  (see  Boyt).  Alexander  (2)  married 
Elizabeth  Sexton.  Jessie  (2)  married  Paradee  Lassiter  and  they  had 
Minnie  (3),  who  married  Curtis  Robey.  Jesse  (2)  married  second 
Samirimus  Carlton  and  had  Nellie  (3)  who  married  Elmer  BrowD 
Ellen  (2)  married  William  Winchester  and  had  James  (3),  who  mar- 
ried Maud  Donaghy,  Robert  (3)  married  Omega  Redden,  and  their 
children  are  Ernest  (4),  who  married  Genia  Leach  and  has  Alice 
Margaret  (5);  Bernard  (4)  married  Walter  Smith,  who  is  a  grocer  of 
Vienna  and  they  have  Grover  (5);  Lester  (4)  and  Ann  May  (4). 
Frank  (2)  had  no  family,  and  one  son,  Isaac  (2)  never  came  to  this 
county. 

MORRAY 
Captain  James  B.  Morray  was  born  in  Hardin  County  near  Rosi- 
clair  1821,  he  came  to  this  county  some  time  before  the  Civil  War  and 
settled  in  Simpson  Township.  He  raised  a  troop  of  Cavalry  in  his 
neighborhood  which  became  Company  B  of  the  Sixth  Cavalry  and 
was  made  its  captain.  He  served  as  an  officer  in  this  troop  until 
February  1864,  when  he  was  honorably  discharged.  He  married 
Izzarilda  Wyatc  1842,  they  had  children  Amanda  (2)  married  Frank 
Lawrence,  they  had  Rilda  (3),  Looney  (3),  Eliza  (3),  Joseph  (3). 
She  married  second  John  Thomas  and  had  Alma  (3);  Nancy  (2)  mar- 
ried Levi  Lay,  they  had  Elizabeth  (3),  Mary  (3),  Robert  (3),  Sherman 
(3),  and  William  (3);  Joseph  B.  (2)  married  Gussie  Hailey,  children 
Minnie  (3),  Gussie  (3).  Minnie  (3)  married  George  (see  Mathis), 
Gussie   (3)  married  Mr.  Willis  of  Harrisburg;   Joseph  B.   (2)   married 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY         409 


second  Ola  Whittenberg,  children  Ralph  (3)  who  married  Halloween 
(see  Parker)  and  Ulala  (3) ;  Joseph  B.  (2)  married  third  Damie  Fort, 
children  Frank  (3),  Floyd  (3),  Joseph  (3),  Mark  (3).  Robert  (2) 
married  Mary  Whitehead,  children  Lula  (3),  Effie  (3),  John  B.  (3), 
Claud  (3),  Bessie  (3),  Wm.  (3).  Sarah  2()  married  John  C.  Ross,  chil- 
dren Martha  (3),  Ernest  (3),  Elizabeth  (3),  Robert  (3),  J.  B.  (3), 
J.  R.  (3),  Laue  (3).  Jane  (2)  married  Marsh  Howell,  children  Joseph 
A.  (3),  Rilda  (3),  Minnie  (3),  Dora  (3),  Robert  (3),  Bertha  (3), 
Charles  (3),  Mary  (3).  Celinda  (2)  married  John  M.  Grissom,  chil- 
dren Olga  (3),  Rilla  (3),  J.  B.  (3),  Jennie  (3),  Myrtie  (3),  Lutta  (3), 
Roy  (3).  Olga  (3)  married  William  Bradley,  children  Eulalia  (4), 
Wyoma  (4);  Rilla  (3)  married  Alonzo  Watters;  J.  B.  (3)  married 
Nora  Bradley,  children  Sibyl  (4),  Paul  (4),  Ned  (4),  Eunice  (4), 
John  (4),  Genevia  (4),  Quinton  (4);  Jennie  (3)  married  Harry  Murrie, 
children  Marvin  (4),  Victor  (4),  Golda  (4);  Myrtie  (3)  married  Elza 
Whitmer  and  has  Harry  DeWayne  (4);  Lutta  (3)  married  William 
Westman  and  has  Grissom  (4),  Juanita  (4),  Wyoma  (4),  Roberta  (4). 
James  (2)  married  Theodocia  Frizzell,  they  had  Thomas  (3),  Gussie 
(3),  Eva  (3),  John   (3),  Clara  (3),  Celinda  (3),  Blain  (3).     James   (2) 

married  second  May  ,  children  Earl  (3),  Celia  (3),  Julia   (3), 

Eunice  (3),  Myra  (3).  Martha  (2)  married  Frank  Johnson,  children 
William  (3),  Charles  (3). 

MORRIS 
Irvin  Morris  was  an  early  settler  and  served  the  county  as  sheriff. 
At  one  time  he  lived  where  William  Nobles  farm  is  now  located.  His 
children  were  James  F.,  Harriet,  who  married  Mr.  Dooley,  Melissa, 
married  J.  Billingsly,  Cynthia  E.,  Mary  Elvira,  William  E.  These 
names  were  obtained  from  the  settlement  of  his  estate  dated  1857, 
witnesses;  George  Elkins,  Samuel  Copeland  and  James  R.  Dooly. 
William  E.  married  Mary  Kuykendall    (see  Simpson). 

MORTON 
Elder  James  L.  Morton  was  born  in  Prince  Edward  County,  Vir- 
ginia, 1809.  He  came  to  this  county  from  Kentucky,  1861,  settling 
near  New  Burnside.  He  was  a  Baptist  minister,  preached  seventy- 
four  years,  reaching  the  age  of  ninety-five.  Elder  Morton  was  a  tee- 
totaler from  the  age  of  fourteen.  He  owned  and  operated  the  first 
threshing  machine  in  Burnside  community.  He  married  first 
Eliza  Hill,  and  they  had  three  children,  Ed.  F.,  James  K.  and  Mrs. 
\V.  W.  Reeves;  second  Mrs.  Nancy  (Tramell)  Joiner,  and  their  chil- 
dren were  Hugh,  who  is  a  Baptist  minister,  Samuel  who  resides  in 
Texas,  Charles  of  this  county,  Fred  of  the  United  States  Army, 
Hattie  of  Hammond,  Indiana  and  Mathew. 


410  A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 

MOZLEY 

John  Norman  Mozley  was  the  founder  of  that  family  in  this 
county.  He  was  born  in  Tennessee  in  1816  and  resided  some  time  in 
Kentucky,  coming  to  this  county  about  1842.  He  married  first  Agnes 
Galloway  and  their  children  were  John  T.  (2),  Archibald  (2),  James 
(2),  Lucy  (2),  Margaret  (2),  and  Sarah  (2).  He  was  a  farmer,  served 
as  sheriff  of  the  county,  and  in  his  later  years  was  a  business  man 
of  Vienna  and  died  in  1904.  John  T.  (2)  was  a  captain  in  the  Civil 
War  ,a  farmer,  and  resided  in  Grantsburg  township.  He  married 
Margaret  (see  Worley).  Archibald  (2)  was  born  in  Kentucky  in  1839. 
He  resided  in  Elvira  township,  this  county,  and  was  a  successful 
farmer  for  many  years.  He  married  Francis  Shelton.  Their  children 
were  Dr.  J.  M.  (3)  of  Johnston  City,  Norman  A.  (3)  who  removed  to 
Missouri  where  he  was  a  prominent  citizen  and  served  in  Congress 
from  that  state.  He  died  recently  (1923).  Archible  (2)  married 
second  Rosie  George  and  they  had  Charles  (3),  George  E.  (3), 
Eugene  (3)  Mary  (3).  Charles  (3)  married  Anna  Oliver,  they  had 
Oliver  (4),  Ollie  (4),  Aline  (4),  Lois  (4);  George  E.  (3)  married 
Arista,  daughter  of  Oliver  Ragsdale,  and  they  have  Archie  (4), 
Georgia  (4).  This  family  Mary  (3)  and  the  mother  are  residents  of 
Elvira  township.     Eugene  (3)   is  a  teacher  and  married  Opal  Mathis. 

James  Mozley  (2)  served  in  the  Civil  War  and  died  during  or 
soon  after  its  close.  Lucy  (2)  and  Margaret  (2)  married  brothers 
named  Burkhead  and  removed  to  Massac  County.  Sarah  (2)  mar- 
ried Mr.  Helm,  and  resides  in  the  southeast  part  of  the  county,  they 
had  Francis  who  married  Stephen,  (see  Farris).  N.  J.  Mozely  (3; 
son  of  John  T.  (2)  was  a  successful  farmer  and  cattle  raiser  in 
Grantsburg  township  for  a  number  of  years.  He  is  a  citizen  of 
Vienna,  retiring  from  the  farm  sometime  ago.  He  has  served  the 
county  as  commissioner  and  was  an  efficient  and  careful  officer.  He 
is  at  present  serving  as  Deputy  Game  Warden  of  the  State. 

McCALL 
Dr.  Robert  Marion  McCall  was  a  son  of  Robert  and  Mary  (Dawson) 
McCall,  and  was  born  in  the  state  of  Mississippi.  His  father  was  a 
native  of  Tennessee.  A  farmer  and  Christian  minister  of  this  county 
for  many  years,  coming  about  1860.  R.  M.  was  the  oldest  son  and 
can  remember  some  of  the  vicissitudes  of  Union  sympathisers,  living 
within  the  borders  of  the  Confederacy.  Many  families  were  compelled 
to  leave  their  home  and  property,  which  was  confiscated  or  destroyed 
by  guerrillas  of  both  Union  and  Confederates.  R.  M.  and  his  father 
succeeded  in  saving  two  thousand  pounds  of  cotton,  which  they  mar- 
keted at  Memphis,  Tenn.,  at  one  dollar  per  pound,  and  this  was  all 
they  saved  out  of  a  large  plantation,  a  number  of  slaves  and  a  large 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY         411 


amount  of  other  personal  property.  Early  in  the  year  1865  the  father 
'•ame  with  his  family  to  Illinois  and  settled  five  miles  northwest  of 
Vienna.  R.  M.  was  partly  educated  in  his  native  state.  After  coming 
to  this  state,  he  attended  the  public  school  and  later  taught  in 
Williamson  County.  He  married  Josephine  Glassford,  1868,  and  began 
the  life  of  a  farmer,  cultivating  his  farm  in  the  summer  and  teaching 
in  the  winter,  until  1871.  He  had  always  had  a  strong  desire  to  be 
a  physician  and  at  this  time  began  to  fit  himself  for  the  profession, 
attending  first  a  course  of  lectures  at  Ohio  Medical  College,  in  Cin- 
cinnati. He  practiced  for  a  while  in  Union  County,  but  returned  for 
further  study  at  the  University  of  Louisville,  where  he  graduated  in 
medicine.  He  began  his  practice  in  Marion,  Williamson  County,  but 
later  moved  to  Buncombe,  this  county,  where  he  lived  fourteen  years, 
afterward  moving  to  Vienna  where  he  continued  with  a  large  and 
lucrative  practice  for  several  years.  Deciding  he  would  like  the 
west  he  moved  to  Oklahoma,  where  he  remaind  a  short  tim.  He 
came  back  to  Vienna,  practiced  here  a  short  time,  and  moved  to 
Metropolis,  where  he  and  his  wife  still  reside.  They  reared  a  family 
in  Johnson  County,  Samuel  (3)  the  oldest,  married  Martha,  daughter 
of  Oliver  and  Sarah  Ragsdale,  they  had  Oliver  (4),  Marian  (4),  Thomas 
(4),  Samuel  (4).  He  died  when  quite  a  young  man,  at  West  Vienna. 
Dr.  T.  E.  (3)  followed  his  father  as  a  physician,  and  resides  in  the 
west.  Elizabeth  (3)  is  the  wife  of  Jackson  Brown  a  druggist,  of 
Phoenix,  Arizona.  Ada  (3)  was  a  teacher  for  several  years  and  is 
now  the  wife  of  Charles  Bill,  who  served  the  state  of  Kansas  as 
Auditor  and  now  resides  at  Garden  City,  that  state.  Eugean.  (3)  is 
a  druggist  and  Dr.  Robert  (3)  a  dentist,  both  of  Phoenix,  Ariz. 
William  (3)  is  a  dentist  of  Metropolis,  Gertrude  (3)  married  Verdie 
Cox  and  died  1920.  James  (3)  the  youngest  is  a  successful  farmer 
and  the  very  efficient  farm  adviser  of  this  county.  He  married 
Luella  Harris  of  Oklahoma,  and  they  have  Helen  (4),  Robert  (4), 
Mary   (4),  Josephine  and  Luella   (4). 

Other  children  of  Robert  (1)  and  Mary  were  William  (2),  who 
died  in  Young  manhood  and  D.  M.  who  married  first  Mary  Win- 
chester, she  died  soon  after  and  he  married  Mary  Stout,  their  children 
are  Mary  (3),  Ruth  (3),  Robert  (3),  Lily  (3),  George  (3).  Mary  (3) 
married  Newton  Murrie  and  had  two  scjqs;  she  married  second  J.  C. 
Grinnel  of  Buncombe  community.  Ruth  married  Frank  (see  Mar- 
berry). 

MCCARTNEY 

M.  N.  McCartney  is  a  native  of  Massac  County.  He  came  here 
as  principal  of  the  first  high  school  of  the  county,  1895,  where  he 
taught  several  years.  After  leaving  here  he  taught  in  other  schools 
for  some  time,  finally  returning  in  1920  to  take  charge  of  the  Vienna 


412         A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 

Township  High  School.  Professor  McCartney  is  a  graduate  of  Hol- 
brook  Normal  University  of  Ohio;  he  also  has  a  number  of  credits 
from  Columbia  University,  N.  Y.  and  has  been  prominent  in  educa- 
tional work  all  his  life.  His  father,  John  F.  was  a  native  of  Scotland 
and  an  early  educator  of  this  section.  M.  N.  McCartney  married  Ida 
Huckleberry,  (see  Harvick  1895).  She  is  also  a  teacher  of  ability  hav- 
ing followed  that  profession  since  early  girlhood.  She  has  also  had 
training  in  Columbia  University.  Their  daughters,  Marcia  May  and 
Alice  Elizabeth  are  graduates  of  Cornell  University,  New  York  State. 

McCORKLE 

Joseph  was  the  head  of  the  McCorkle  family  in  this  county.  He 
came  here  about  1818  from  Virginia.  The  maiden  name  of  his  wife 
was  Randolph.  He  entered  land  and  settled  east  and  a  little  south  of 
Vienna  about  one  and  one  half  miles.  He  owned  a  tanyard  here  in 
the  twenties,  and  later  had  a  mill.  His  children  were  John  R.  (2), 
who  was  born  1825  on  the  home  farm  and  resided  there  all  of  his 
life,  which  was  eighty-nine  years.  He  married  Louisa  J.  Hogg  and 
they  had  Joseph  W.  (3)  who  married  Margaret  Lundy  and  their  chil- 
dren were  Pansy  (4)  who  married  a  Mr.  Brown  and  resides  in  one 
of  the  Dakotas;  Donald  (4)  lives  at  Anna,  and  Margaret  (4)  lives 
with  her  sister  in  the  west.  William  N.  (3)  married  first  Mary  Red- 
den, and  they  had  Lula  (4)  who  married  Oliver  Fisher,  a  business 
man  of  Vienna,  and  they  have  William  (5).  Sadie  (4)  married  Oscar 
M.  Wiesenbaum  and  resides  in  California.  Charles  (4)  not  married 
W.  N.  (3)  married  second  Gertrude  (Verhines)  Hundley.  They  have 
Helen  (4).  J.  F.  (3)  married  Martha  (see  Veach).  John  R.  (2)  mar- 
ried second  Mrs.  R.  N.  Shirley  and  their  children  are  Mrs.  May 
Anderson  of  Chicago,  and  Mrs.  Adolph  Baur  of  Kankakee.  Amanda 
(2)  married  William  (see  Price).  Nicinda  (2)  married  Preston  (see 
McFatridge).  Lorina  (2)  married  Robert  Hight  and  their  children 
were  Frank  (3)  and  Alonzo  (3). 

McEVOY 
J.  P.  McEvoy,  the  author,  was  reared  in  our  county  where  his 
mother  still  resides.  She  is  not  unknown  to  fame,  at  least  locally,  as 
an  orchardist  of  Burnside  Township.  J.  P.  has  made  a  name  for 
himself  through  the  writing  of  "The  Potters."  He  is  acknowledged 
by  critics  as  the  man  with  his  hand  on  the  American  pulse  and  his  eye 
on  the  average  American.  He  observes  everything  from  an  unlaced 
shoe  to  the  flicker  of  an  eye  lid.  He  writes  not  by  the  page  but  by  the 
yard-length.  He  turns  out  greeting  cards,  couplets  for  birthday 
wishes,  humorous  notes,  comic  editorials,  serious  magazine  articles, 
vaudeville  sketches  and  plays.  He  has  said  "Merry  Christmas" 
oftener  and   to  more   people  than   any   man   living.     He  makes   copy 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY         413 

out  ot  anything  that  comes  to  his  hand  the  stray  remark,  the 
ponderous  sermon,  the  street  car  conductor's  gibe,  the  cash  girl's 
slang,  everything.  We  as  a  community  are  proud  to  have  contributed 
to  his  childhood  bringing  up,  but  like  all  our  famous  men,  as  soon 
as  they  attain  fame  they  seek  new  centers  of  activity. 

McFATRIDGE 

William  McFatridge  settled  in  this  county  about  1810,  eight  miles 
east  of  Vienna.  He  was  said  to  be  of  Irish  descent  and  from  the 
best  information  to  be  obtained,  came  originally  from  North  Carolina. 
He  was  quite  prominent  in  the  official  affairs  of  the  county  in  its 
infancy,  served  as  justice  of  the  peace  in  1818,  was  a  delegate  to 
the  first  constitutional  convention  and  also  served  in  the  States 
Legislature.  His  estate  was  settled  by  Ivy  Reynolds,  1840.  There  is 
a  chancery  suit  on  record  in  that  year  in  which  his  wife,  Nancy, 
with  John,  George  Washington,  Sarah,  Mary  and  Micheal  Hale, 
Margaret  and  Ezekiel  Choat,  Nancy  and  Simon  Jones,  Matilda  and 
Richard  Riddle,  were  given  as  defendants  and  are  supposed  to  be 
the  widow  and  children  of  William  McFatridge.  Traditions  says, 
Washington  McFatridge  removed  from  this  county  many  years  ago 
and  there  is  no  further  knowledge  of  him.  Ezekiel  Choat  lived  in 
Burnside  Township,  1828  and  left  many  descendants  in  that  section, 
but  there  can  be  no  authentic  data  except  the  above  as  to  his  family 
relations,  and  no  knowledge  of  any  of  this  family  except  John  (2), 
who  married  Margaret  Bain  and  they  had  Preston  (3),  he  married 
Nicenda  McCorcle  and  had  John  Henry  (4),  Margaret  (4),  Joseph 
Brooks  (4),  Grant  (4),  Kate  (4),  Norma  (4),  Robert  (4).  John  Henry 
(4)  married  Susanna  Bain  and  had  John  (5),  Ruth  (5)  and  Abner  (5). 
John  (5)  not  married.  Abner  (5)  married  Miss  Taylor.  Ruth  (5) 
married  Charles  King  and  has  three  children.  Margaret  (4)  married 
Franklin  Murrie  and  had  Emma  (5),  Daisy  (5),  Margaret  (5),  May  (5). 
Emma  (5)  married  W.  H.  (see  Carter).  Daisy  (5)  married  Dave 
Ragsdale  and  left  one  daughter,  Velma  (6).  May  (5)  married  Arthur 
Throgmorton  and  has  Robert  (6),  Marguerite  (6),  and  Arthur  Jr.  (6). 
Margaret  (5)  married  Earl  D.  (see  Veach).  Joseph  B.  (4)  married 
Nancy  Mount  and  they  have  Bertha  (5)  who  married  Mr.  Foy.  Charles 
(5),  Walter  (5)  married  Etta  (see  Whiteside);  Ola  (5)  married  Earl 
Simpson.  Grant  (4)  married  Letha  Simmons.  Kate  (4)  married 
George  Brown,  one  child,  Lula  (5)  who  married  Oscar  (see  Simpson). 
Kate  (4)  married  second  Jefferson  (see  Reuben  Brown)  and  had 
Guy  (5),  Reuben  (5),  Ray  (5),  Walter  (5),  Clyde  (5),  Ruth  (5). 
Norma  (4)  married  James  P.  (see  Simpson). 


414  A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


McGEE 

F.  M.  McGee  was  born  in  Graves  County,  Ky.,  in  1833  and  was 
brought  to  Illinois  when  a  child.  The  father,  Benjamin  F.  was  a 
native  of  Sumner  County,  Tenn.,  his  father,  James,  came  to  this 
country  from  the  southern  part  of  Scotland,  his  wife  was  of  Irish 
ancestry.  They  came  early  to  the  colonies  and  settled  first  near 
Charlestown,  S.  C.  and  later  came  to  Tenn.,  where  he  died.  Benjamin 
F.  was  married  in  Tennessee  to  Nancy  Armstrong,  they  moved  from 
Tennessee  to  Kentucky  and  later  to  Illinois,  settling  in  that  part  of 
Johnson  County  which  is  now  Pulaski  County,  which  at  that  time 
was  the  most  improved  section  in  the  state.  Benjamin  F.  drew  up 
the  petition  to  make  Pulaski  a  separate  county.  Francis  was  one  ol 
a  family  of  twelve  children  all  of  whom  reached  maturity.  He  at- 
tended subscription  schools  in  the  community,  also  a  school  at  Center- 
7ille,  Iowa.  He  worked  on  a  farm  until  grown,  was  a  flat  boatman. 
on  the  river,  this  was  a  common  and  lucrative  business  in  pioneer 
days.  Men  had  timber  cut  into  cord  wood  and  logs  and  loaded  it  on 
fiat  boats,  floated  it  down  the  Ohio  to  the  Mississippi  and  thence  to 
New  Orleans  where  there  was  a  ready  sale  for  the  wood  for  fuel  and 
the  logs  for  lumber.  Francis  was  a  man  of  varied  occupations,  a 
farmer,  a  teacher  and  at  one  time  peddler  for  a  Jew  for  which  he 
received  $7  per  month,  also  a  merchant  at  Caledonia,  111.  In  the 
spring  of  1865  he  started  a  mercantile  business  at  Reynoldsburg,  this 
county.  While  living  there  he  was  elected  to  the  State  Legislature. 
He  moved  his  business  to  New  Burnside  in  1875  and  continued  it 
there  until  his  death  which  occurred  in  1896.  He  was  a  Mason  and 
a  Methodist,  He  married  Mrs.  Elizabeth  (Peterson)  Weaver  and  had 
Ardana,  William,  Ella  and  Benjamin  F.  Ardana  married  Dr.  W.  R. 
Littell  and  had  one  son,  Guy  who  lives  in  Chicago;  William  died 
leaving  no  family,  Ella  never  married,  and  Benjamin  F.  married  and 
has  one  child,  Elizabeth,  he  is  a  prominent  business  man  of  New 
York  City. 

NEWTON 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  D.  Newton  are  old  residents  of  this  county  living 
in  Goreville  Township.  The  Newton  homestead  was  entered  from 
the  government  in  1842.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Newton  have  been  married 
fifty  years  and  have  reared  five  sons  namely  Charles  J.,  James  W. 
George  F.,  E.  M.  and  O.  A.  These  sons  have  families  and  are  all 
residents  of  this  county. 

NOBLES 

John  B.  Nobles  was  one  of  the  successful  pioneer  farmers  of 
Elvira  Township.  He  married  and  had  Nancy  who  married  James 
Harpending,  they  had  one  son,  Mancil.  Mr.  Nobles  married  second 
Elizabeth   Brown    (sister   to   R.   W.   and   Reuben)    they   had   William, 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY  415 

Fiank  and  Charles.  William  married  Martha  Cowan  (see  Worley). 
Frank  married  Elizabeth  (see  Pearce).  Charles  married  Cora  Redden, 
they  have  Clarence  who  is  a  graduate  of  the  University  of  Illinois  and 
a  teacher  in  an  agricultural  college  at  Blacksburg,  Va.  Charles  is  a 
first  class  farmer  and  an  influential  citizen  of  Buncombe  community. 
He  and  wife  are  members  of  the  M.  E.  Church. 

O'BANNON 
(Pressly  J.  O'Bannon  alias  Judge  T.  C.  Brown) 

Some  time  in  the  early  seventies,  a  man,  woman  and  child  came 
to  Vienna  and  settled  down  to  make  a  home  together  apparently  with 
very  little  to  begin  with.  They  were  recognized  by  neighbors  ana 
friends  as  Mr.  T.  C.  Brown  and  family.  He  applied  himself  to  work 
of  different  kinds  to  procure  a  living.  It  was  soon  discovered  that  he 
was  a  man  of  ability  and  he  was  elected  Police  Magistrate  and  to 
some  minor  offices  of  the  village.  Being  and  educated  man  and  con- 
ducting himself  with  propriety  and  good  judgement,  he  made  many 
Friends  in  the  village  and  county.  He  acquired  some  property  and 
was  a  citizen  and  officially  (County  Judge)  in  good  standing  in  the 
county.  Early  in  the  spring  of  1879  a  messenger  from  the  Masonic  Man- 
ual Life  Insurance  Company  came  here  looking  for  Pressley  J.  O'Ban- 
non who  had  disappeared  from  the  town  of  Leavensworth,  Crawford 
County,  Ind.,  seven  years  before.  O'Bannon  was  about  34  years  old 
when  he  disappeared.  A  lawyer  by  profession,  interested  some  in  poli- 
tics and  was  Township  Trustee.  Where  he  resided  he  had  a  wile  and 
two  sons  and  a  some  of  property.  Up  to  within  a  few  months  before 
his  leaving  he  had  borne  a  splendid  character  and  was  supposedly 
happy  in  his  family  life.  A  short  time  before,  however,  he  began 
drinking.  He  left  his  home,  Fredonnia,  Ind.,  one  evening  to 
attend  a  meeting  of  his  Masonic  lodge  at  Levensworth,  a  town  nearby, 
conduct.  He  entered  the  lodge  room  intoxicated,  so  the  story  goes, 
and  asked  a  stay  of  proceedings  which  was  granted.  He  staggered 
out  of  the  room  and  was  seen  no  more.  His  horse  was  found  tied 
in  an  unused  stable  a  few  days  afterward,  but  no  trace  of  the  rider. 
A  rumor  was  current  that  he  had  boarded  an  Ohio  River  steamboat  on 
that  fateful  night  and  had  been  seen  to  leave  it  at  Evansville,  Ind. 
He  seems  to  have  lost  track  of  himself  for  several  days  and  when  he 
came  to  himself  he  was  sawing  wood  for  a  man  in  Southern  Illinois. 
He  decided  never  to  return  home  thinking  his  family  would  be  better 
off  without  him.  He  picked  up  a  woman  and  child  and  wandered  into 
Vienna  and  would  probably  have  lived  here  many  years  as  he  had 
the  last  seven  if  he  had  not  had  a  policy  in  the  above  mentioned  in- 
surance company.     His  family  mourned  him  as   dead.     His   wife  ad 


416         A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


ministered  on  his  estate  and  applied  for  the  money  due  on  her  hus- 
band's policy.  It  seems  she  could  not  prove  his  death  and  they  could 
not  prove  he  was  living  but  they  continued  to  postpone  the  payment 
as  long  as  they  could  and  a  short  time  before  the  seven  years  had 
expired  a  letter  was  received  by  the  Postmaster  at  Leavensworth, 
Ind.,  from  Dr.  N.  S.  Hudson,  a  druggist  of  Tunnel  Hill,  111.,  who  had 
served  under  O'Bannon  in  the  army,  asking  if  he  would  like  to  know 
the  whereabouts  of  P.  J.  O'Bannon.  The  company  sent  a  man  in 
question.  O'Bannon  told  thhis  man  he  had  never  been  married  to  the 
woman  he  was  living  with  and  the  understanding  between  them  was 
that  she  would  accept  what  he  had  to  give  and  that  he  might  leave 
at  any  time. 

He  immediately  returned  to  his  father's  home  at  Alton,  Ind., 
where  his  two  sons  were.  His  father  was  overjoyed  and  while  his 
wife  was  willing  to  forgive  his  absence,  she  was  not  willing  to  for- 
give the  Mrs.  Judge  Brown  and  applied  for  a  divorce.  Any  further 
knowledge  of  these  parties  is  hidden  by  time  and  distance,  but  since 
truth  is  stranger  than  fiction,  no  doubt,  the  story  ended  with  ample 
punishment  for  the  transgressor.  (A  statement  was  given  out  thai 
Brown  as  Judge  had  assessed  a  heavy  fine  on  Dr.  Hudson  for  selling 
liquor  unlawfully  and  stung  by  this  act  Hudson  sought  revenge  by 
reporting  him.  The  court  records  show  the  case  dismissed  and  no 
fine  had  been  assessed.) 

PARKER 

Reverend  I.  A.  J.  Parker  came  to  this  county  about  the  close  of 
the  Civil  War  from  Mississippi  having  served  in  that  war  as  a  Lieut- 
enant in  the  Federal  Army.  He  taught  in  this  county  many  years 
and  was  also  a  minister  of  the  Christian  Church.  He  understood 
music  and  frequently  taught  community  singing  in  various  neighbor- 
hoods. He  represented  this  district  in  the  Legislature  as  a  Demo- 
crat, 1888-90.  He  married  Jennie  Clary,  also  of  Mississippi.  Their 
children  are  Addison  (2),  who  is  a  physician  of  Dongola,  Illinois  (for 
family  see  Henard) ;  Lucas  (2)  is  a  prominent  business  man  of 
Vienna.  He  married  Delia  (see  Clymer) ;  Agustus  (2)  married  Alice 
(see  Harvick)  and  resides  in  California;  Willis  A.  (2)  fitted  himself 
for  a  minister,  graduated  at  Harvard  and  was  connected  with  the 
Columbia  University  of  New  York  as  student  and  teacher.  He  fol- 
lowed the  work  of  the  ministry  for  some  time,  but  later  took  up  Com- 
munity Service  work.  Myrtle  (2)  married  Daniel  (see  Marberry). 
Ethel  (2)  is  the  wife  of  Rev  Sears  of  the  Christian  Church  and  has 
one  son,  Parker  (3).  Beverly  (2)  is  also  a  minister  of  the  same 
denomination  and  resides  in  Kansas;  Lilly  (2)  has  been  an  invalid  for 
many  years,  regardless  of  this  handicap,  she  is  a  great  influence  for 
good  and  devoted  to  church  work,  which  she  carries  on  through  her 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY  417 


friends.     Mrs.  Parker  is  very  active  at  the  age  of  eight-six  and  rarely 
misses  a  service  at  her  church,  the  Christian. 


PEARCE 

McKinny  Pearce,  tradition  says,  was  born  in  England.  On  coming 
to  America,  he  settled  first  in  North  Carolina,  but  later  moved  to 
Maury  County,  Tennessee,  where  he  followed  teaching  and  farming, 
using  slave  labor  to  work  his  farm.  His  son  Arthur  with  his  wife 
and  four  children  came  to  Illinois,  settling  first  in  Union  County, 
1823,  but  about  ten  years  later  removed  to  Johnson.  His  wife  was 
Elizabeth  Bissell,  and  their  children  were  William  (2),  Stokely  (2), 
Isaac  N.  (2),  Rayford  (2),  Garner  (2),  Mary  (2)  and  Elizabeth  (2). 
Issac  N.  (2)  served  the  county  as  clerk  several  times  residing  in 
Vienna.  He  married  Clara,  a  sister  of  Turner  Jones  and  they  had 
Bazil  (3)  who  married  Betty  Cheek;  Emma  (3),  married  Calvin 
Mathls;  Frank  (3)  married  Miss  Baker;  Jennie  (3),  married  a  Mr. 
Ray  and  had  Harold  (4),  Clara  (4);  Albert  (3),  resides  in  Texas, 
where  he  married  and  has  Chester  (4)  and  Alice  (4);  John  (3)  mar- 
ried Georgia  Magnor  and  had  Harry  (4).  Rayford  (2)  was  a  farmer 
of  this  county  and  married  Susan  Jones,  sister  to  Turner.  They  had 
William  (3),  Mary  (3),  who  married  a  Mr.  Rentfro  and  Clara  (3). 
Garner  (2)  born  in  1829,  entered  land  in  Elvira  township,  near 
what  is  now  the  village  of  Buncombe,  1852,  where  he  lived  and  farmed 
throughout  his  life.  He  added  to  his,  at  first,  small  farm,  built  a  good 
dwelling  and  was  above  the  average  farmer  of  his  neighborhood.  He 
married  Eliza  J.  Canady  and  their  children  were  Bundy  (3),  Mary 
E.  (3)  and  Eliza  (3).  Bundy  (3)  married  Amanda  Ragsdale  and  their 
children  are  Blain  (4),  Albert  (4),  Earl  (4).  Blain  (4)  married  Bessie 
Miller  and  has  two  children  Marshall  and  Carl  (5) ;  Albert  (4)  mar- 
ried Iris  Rude  and  their  children  are  Glen  (5)  and  Ruth  (5).  Eliza 
(3)  married  Frank  Nobles  and  their  children  are  Bessie  (4),  Harry 
(4),  Oran  (4).  Bessie  (4)  married  Caleb  Montgomery  and  has  Harry 
(5)  and  May  (5).  Harry  (4)  is  a  resident  of  Washington  and  married 
in  that  state.  Bundy  (3)  is  one  of  the  substantial  farmers  of  Elvira 
Township  and  lives  neighbor  to  his  mother  who  has  lived  at  her  pres- 
ent home  for  sixty-eight  years,  having  gone  there  as  a  bride.  She  re- 
members the  notches  on  the  trees  near  her  home  which  indicated  a 
public  road  and  was  no  doubt  the  old  road  leading  from  Golconda  to 
Jonesboro.  Mrs.  Pearce  came  to  this  county  with  her  parents  when 
twelve  years  old  and  attended  a  school  taught  by  Branum  Worrell, 
grandfather  to  our  present  County  Superintendent  of  Schools.  Wil- 
liam (2)  was  a  Baptist  minister  and  labored  many  years  in  this  coun- 
ty for  the  moral  and  spiritual  welfare  of  its  citizens. 


418         A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


PEELER 
The  Peeler  family  came  to  this  county  a  little  later  than  the 
Wests,  Axleys,  Martins  and  Mercers,  but  settled  in  the  same  neighbor- 
hood. There  were  three  brothers  who  came  from  North  Carolina, 
John  was  born  1810,  and  his  wife,  born  1809,  in  that  state.  They 
came  here  1860,  and  their  children  were  William  D.  (2),  Sarah  (2)  and 
Mary  (2).  W.  D.  (2)  was  born  in  North  Carolina,  1839.  He  was  a  suc- 
cessful farmer  of  Lincoln  Green  for  many  years,  served  in  the  Civil 
War,  and  was  an  influential  man  of  his  time.  He  married  Catherine  E. 
Bishop,  who  still  resides  on  the  home  place.  They  had  Samuel  D.  (3), 
Olin  (3),  Francis  (3).  Samuel  D.  (3)  was  one  of  the  progressive  men  of 
this  county.  His  farm  was  known  as  the  Cypress  Live  Stock  farm,  in 
acreage,  production  and  equipment  was  equaled,  if  at  all,  by  few. 
Mr.  Peeler  served  the  county  as  commissioner  and  was  for  years  an 
efficient  member  of  the  Cache  Drainage  Commission.  Owing  to  ill 
health  he  retired  from  the  farm  and  business.  He  married  Mary  D. 
Rees  and  has  Ralph  (4).  Olin  (3)  is  also  one  of  the  foremost  farmers 
of  that  neighborhood.  He  married  Flora  Sowers,  and  they  had  Roscoe 
(4),  Lola  (4),  Luther  (4),  Lena  (4).  Roscoe  is  a  graduate  of  the 
Chicago  College  of  Veterinary  Surgery.  Lola  (4)  married  Ella  Pen- 
rod;  Luther  (4)  married  Violet  Capron;  Lena  (4)  married  Olin 
Hunter.  Francis  (3)  married  Thomas  Wilhelm  and  they  have  Floyd 
(4)  who  married  a  Miss  Cook,  Ora  (4)  is  a  teacher  of  this  county. 
Mr.  Wilhelm  is  another  good  farmer  of  the  above  neighborhood. 
These  farms  and  residences  show  progress  and  a  desire  for  the  best 
in  country  home  life.  Sarah  (2)  married  Benjamin  Bishop  and  their 
children  were  Frank  (3)  who  married  Miss  Adams,  Mary  (3)  married 
William  Newton,  children  Thomas  (4),  Joseph  (4),  John  (4),  Lena  (4), 
Phoebe  (4),  Ethel  (4).  Mary  (2)  married  Carrol  Axley  and  had 
Sarah  Olive  (3),  who  married  Finley  Bean  and  their  children  are 
Eva  (4),  Oma  (4),  married  Dow  Drake  and  has  Cecil  (5)  and  Olive 
(5);  Thomas  (4)  married  Vida  Coke;  Eva  (4)  with  Ruth  (4)  and 
Paul  (4)  are  at  home.  Abraham  Peeler  was  another  of  the  brothers, 
but  the  date  of  his  coming  is  not  known.  He  had  children  Eva 
Levisa  (2),  Calvin  (2),  Louisa  (2),  Adam  (2),  Sarah  (2),  Jane  (2), 
Julia  (2)  Frank  (2).  Eva  Levisa  (2)  married  Whitson  File;  Calvin 
(2)  married  Nancy  Evers.  Louisa  (2)  married  Emmerson  Mercer. 
Sarah  (2)  married  Terry  Axley.  Julia  (2)  married  John  Shadrick 
and  their  daughter  Delia  married  Calvin  Dewitt,  and  resides  in 
Anna,  111.  Jane  (2)  married  James  Axley  and  had  John  (3),  who 
married  Nancy,  daughter  of  Emmerson  Mercer,  Ellen  (3),  married 
William  Lizenbeck.  Clark  (3)  married  Lydia  Hardy.  Jane  (2)  mar- 
ried second  W.  D.  Deans  (see  Gore).  Adam  (2)  married  Martha 
Whitnel,  and  they  had  Frank  (3)  who  lives  in  Anna,  111.     Frank   (2) 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY  419 


married  Mary  Jones.  Jacob  a  third  brother  came  here  in  1848,  but  lat- 
er removed  to  Union  County.  His  wife  was  Margaret  Richey,  and  they 
had  Richey  D.  (2),  Pleasant  (2),  Joyce  (2).  Richey  D.  (2)  was  a 
substantial  farmer  of  this  county  for  many  years  and  married  Amanda 
Burns,  they  had  Otto  (3),  Lenna  I.  (3),  Cora  M.  (3),  Alta  (3),  Flora 
(3),  Floyd  (3),  Inez  (3).    Joyce  (2)  married  Miss  Niblock. 

PENROD 
Penrods  are  an  old  family  of  this  section  many  of  whom  reside  in 
Union  County.  Samuel  Penrod  owned  a  ferry  on  the  Mississippi  in 
the  very  first  years  of  the  settlement  of  this  county.  They  were 
connected  with  the  Finney  family,  pioneers,  and  Unity  Smith  born  in 
Virginia  1750,  married  James  Allen  Penrod,  they  had  a  son,  Millington 
which  would  cause  one  to  think  Unity  was  a  sister  of  Millington 
Smith,  the  first.  Unity  died  in  Union  County,  1844.  Not  enough  in- 
formation could  be  obtained  to  arrange  a  family  tree. 

PERKINS 
Captain  William  Perkins  was  born  in  1819  in  Kentucky.  His 
mother  being  a  widow  his  opportunity  for  an  education  was  limited. 
He  started  out  to  make  his  own  way  at  the  age  of  nineteen.  On 
coming  to  Illinois  he  worked  on  a  farm  for  twenty-five  cents  per  day. 
After  his  marriage,  by  farming  and  working  for  others,  he  accumu- 
lated enough  to  buy  a  farm  two  miles  east  of  Vienna.  He  later  sold 
the  farm  and  turned  his  attention  to  milling  in  partnership  with  A. 
J.  Kuykendall.  When  the  Civil  War  came  on  he  assisted  in  raising  a 
company  which  was  incorporated  in  the  fourteenth  cavalry,  and  was 
made  Captain  of  Company  G.  He  served  four  years,  and  took  part 
in  many  battles.  He  was  seriously  wounded  in  an  engagement  near 
Macon,  Ga.,  and  taken  to  a  farm  house.  When  he  recovered  suf- 
ficiently to  be  out  on  crutches,  he  was  sent  to  Andersonville  prison. 
Within  a  few  months  he  was  exchanged  and  was  soon  discharged 
on  account  of  his  disability.  In  1866  he  bought  what  has  been  known 
since  as  the  Perkins  house  and  operated  it  as  a  hotel  as  long  as  he 
lived.  He  was  elected  sheriff  in  1868.  He  married  Eliaz,  1840  (see 
Simpson).     Captain  Perkins  died  1892. 

PETERSON 

Peterson,  Mercers  and  Axleys  are  very  closely  connected  with 
the  West  family,  and  so  little  definite  history  can  be  obtained 
that  it  seems  well  to  place  them  together.  Tradition  says  the  Peter- 
sons came  first  to  Illinois,  from  the  South  by  way  of  Tennessee. 
Some  of  them  moved  back  to  their  old  home,  but  later  returned  to 
this  county.  The  first  record  of  the  Peterson  family  is  a  will  that  was 
made  in  1815  by  William  Peterson  and  is  shown  in  Wills.  His  wife  was 


420         A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 

Mary,  and  he  refers  to  Joshua  as  a  child.  He  also  refers  to  Hezekiah 
West  as  his  brother-in-law.  His  wife  would  have  been  Osborn  or 
West,  leaving  the  inference  that  William  Peterson  came  from  Soutli 
Carolina,  from  which  state  the  Wests  came.  He  further  speaks  of 
William  and  Thomas  Peterson,  they  may  have  been  brothers  or  they 
both  may  have  been  grown  sons.  There  is  also  a  John  Peterson  con- 
nected with  this  family.  There  would  be  at  least  two  Williams, 
Thomas  and  John  Peterson  of  the  same  period.  Thomas  is  the  only 
one  whose  descendants  have  materialized  in  this  book  although  there 
are  numerous  people  of  that  name  in  the  county  and  presumably  all 
of  the  same  family.  Thomas  (1)  married  Lucy,  one  branch  of  the 
family  says  Arbor,  the  other  says  Yarberry.  He  lived  in  Arkansas, 
when  his  son  Owen  was  born  1812.  The  children  of  Thomas  and 
Lucy  were  Owen  (2),  James  (2),  Richard  (2),  Polly  (2).  Tradition 
says  he  returned  to  this  county  about  1835.  Owen  (2)  married  Mercer 
and  his  descendants  are  found  in  the  West  family.     James  Peterson 

(2)  was  one  of  the  founders  of  the  M.  E.  Church  at  Mt.  Pleasant, 
Bloomfield  Township,  where  he  raised  a  family.  His  children  were 
T.  G.  (3).  Joshua  (3),  James  (3),  Polly  (3),  Louisa  (3),  William  J. 
(3).T.  G.  (3),  married  M.  J.  Seay;  Joshua  (3)  lives  in  Missouri;  James 

(3)  lives  in  Oklahoma;  Louisa  (3)  married  Ira  Coats  and  also  lives  in 
Oklahoma;  William  M.  (3)  married  Elizabeth  Taylor,  he  is  a  retired 
minister  and  lives  at  Creal  Springs.  Their  children  are  John  F.  (4) 
who  married  Lola  Maler;  James  A.  (4)  married  Myrtle  Powles. 
Charles  L.  (4)  married  Phoebe  Lewis;  Otto  (4)  married  Pearl  Oliver; 
Clyde  (4)  married  Olive  Smith;  Fred  (4)  married  Mamie  Oliver; 
Daisy  (4)  married  S.  A.  Mathews,  Pearl  (4)  married  John  Ragsdale. 
Most  of  this  family  reside  in  Williamson  County,  except  Charles  L. 
who  is  an  M.  E.  Minister  of  Southerin  Illinois  Conference  and  is  now 
located  at  Mt.  Vernon,  111. 

Richard  Mercer  was  said  to  be  a  native  of  Wales;  he  married  a 
daughter  of  Hezekiah  West  and  was  the  head  of  the  Mercer  family 
in  this  county.  The  Axleys  came  here  about  the  same  time  as  the 
West  family.  Robert,  the  head  of  one  family,  floated  down  the  Ohio 
River  on  a  flat  boat.  P.  W.  and  Robert  Axley  were  living  in  the 
county  in  1814.  P.  W.  had  three  daughters;  one  resides  in  Denver, 
one  in  Kansas  City  and  one  in  Dongola.  He  settled  the  farm  where 
the  Charles  Stone  Quarry  is  now  located.  The  name  of  Roberts  first 
wife  is  not  known.  He  had  Isaac  (2),  Elijah  (2)  and  Elizabeth  (2). 
Isaac  and  Elijah  married  Mercers  and  are  found  in  the  West  family; 
Elizabeth  married  Joshua  Copeland  and  is  found  under  Copeland. 
Robert  Axley  settled  the  farm  now  known  as  the  Whitnel  place  in 
West  Eden  community. 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY         421 

PHELPS 

Paul  E.  Phelps  is  a  native  of  Johnson  County.  His  lather  was 
Charles  YY.  who  was  born  in  North  Carolina  in  1832.  Bradley  Phelps 
was  his  grand  father  and  in  later  life  a  teacher  of  Saline  County. 
Charles  W.  came  to  the  West  Eden  community  as  an  associate  of 
James  Bell  in  the  timber  business  and  married  Amanda  (Smith)  Mc- 
Cluskey  whose  father,  Robert  Smith  was  a  Methodist  minister  and  a 
fine  singer.  They  had  one  son,  Paul.  E.  who  was  left  an  orphan  at 
three  years  of  age.  He  received  his  primary  education  in  the  public 
schools  and  his  higher  course  at  the  S.  I.  N.  U.  and  has  been  a  teacher 
for  twenty-one  years.  He  was  elected  assessor  and  treasurer  of  the 
county  in  1922.  He  married  Maude  Jones  and  has  one  son,  Lowell, 
who  is  a  student  in  the  Vienna  Township  High  School.  Mr.  Phelps 
and  wife  are  members  of  the  M.  E.  Church  and  the  order  of  Eastern 
Star. 

POOR 

The  Poor  family  came  here  from  Tennessee  in  1834.  The  father 
died  soon  after  they  arrived,  leaving  the  mother  in  a  new  country 
with  five  children,  namely  S.  D.  (2),  Washington  (2),  Sena  (2),  Nancy 
(2),  Benjamin  (2),  S.  D.  married  Sarah  J.  Mount  and  was  a  successful 
bussiness  man  and  the  founder  of  Old  Grantsburg,  now  Wartrace.  He 
was  a  well  known  man  of  his  community  and  a  staunch  Presbyterian. 
They  had  Jane  (3),  who  married  Dr.  W.  J.  (see  Fern);  Elizabeth  (3) 
married  Garrett  Simmons,  a  prominent  merchant  of  Metropolis,  111., 
and  their  children  are  Ethel  (4)  and  Roy  (4);  Sidney  (3)  married 
L.  H.  (see  Frizzell) ;  J.  N.  (3)  married  Sarah  Duncan  and  their  chil- 
dren were  Mamie  (4)  who  married  a  Mr.  Loghas,  of  Constaninople, 
Turkey,  they  have  Newton  Montford  (5)  and  reside  at  present  in 
Berlin,  Germany.  Grace  Newton  (4)  married  Benjamin  Watson  and 
they  have  one  son  and  reside  in  New  York  City.  Dora  (3)  lives  in 
Metropolis,  111.  Washington  (2)  married  the  widow  of  Captain  Frank- 
lin and  was  a  farmer  of  this  county.  No  knowledge  of  the  daughters, 
Sena  (2)  and  Nancy  (2).  B.  F.  (2)  married  Mary  J.  Simmons,  one 
son,  L.  F.  (3)  who  is  a  first-class  farmer  and  a  resident  of  West 
Vienna;  he  married  Agusta  Grissom,  the  children  are  Bertha  (4)  WTio 
married  Addison  (see  Smith),  Mrs.  Cleve  Sloan  (4)  and  Mrs.  Fisher, 
wife  of  Dr.  J.  A.  Fisher.     The  last  two  families  reside  in  Metropolis. 

POWELL 
Thomas  B.  Powell's  family  came  here  about  Civil  War  times.  He 
and  a  sister,  who  married  Mr.  Rendleman,  were  left  orphans  at  an 
early  age.  Thomas  lived  in  the  home  of  Maj.  A.  J.  Kuykendall  when 
a  boy  and  when  old  enough  began  working  in  a  drug  store  for  Dr. 
Damron  where  he  learned  to  be  a  first  class  Pharmacist.     He  later 


422         A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


entered  business  for  himself  which  he  carried  on  successfully.  Social- 
ly he  was  an  I.  O.  O.  F.,  a  mason  and  he  and  wife  were  members  of 
the  Christian  church  and  the  democratic  party.  He  had  few,  if  any. 
enemies,  died  1924.  He  married  first  Rosa  (see  Johnson) ;  second 
Vinnie  Hartwell  of  Marion;  they  had  two  sons,  Hartewell  and  Paul 
T.  Hartwell  was  accidently  killed  while  hunting  and  Paul  T.  is  a 
young  and  active  business  man  of  Vienna,  for  family  (see  Price). 
Mrs.  Powell  still  resides  in  Vienna  where  she  devotes  her  time  to 
music,  church,  family  and  friends. 

PRICE 
William  H.  Price  came  here  from  Tennessee  in  1840  and  settled 
east  of  Vienna  on  the  farm  now  owned  by  J.  M.  Price.  He  married 
Amanda  McCorcle  and  they  had  Joseph  (2),  James  M.  (2),  Emma  (2), 
Abby  (2).  Joseph  (2)  left  this  county  years  ago.  James  M.  (2)  re- 
sides on  the  old  home  farm,  he  married  Sula  Pearce  and  their  chil- 
dren are  Harry  (3),  James  (3),  Emma  (3)  who  married  Dr.  Huff, 
Amanda  (3),  Walter  (3),  Joseph  (3),  Charles  (3)  and  Flossie  (3). 
Harry  (3)  married  Francis  Felts,  and  had  Violet  (4)  who  married 
P  .T.  Powell;  James  (3)  married  Miss  Miller  and  removed  to  Indiana; 
Walter  (3)  married  Ethel  Lindrum  and  is  a  druggist  of  Cypress; 
Joseph  (3)  married  Mabel  Burris  and  has  Bert  (4)  and  Helen  (4); 
Charles  (3)  married  Ethel  Mackey  and  is  a  teacher;  Flossie  (3)  mar- 
ried Mid  Gray  and  resides  in  Detroit,  Mich. 

REDDEN 
Smith  Redden  was  the  founder  of  that  family  in  this  county 
coming  here  about  1860  from  Tennessee,  he  married  Martha  Davis 
of  that  state  and  their  children  were  Randolph  (2)  who  married  Dora 
Mathis;  they  had  Onedia  (3)  who  married  Robert  Winchester  (see 
Morgan);  Otto  (3)  married  Effie  Verhines  and  has  Thelma  (4)  and 
Ralph  (4).  Otto  married  second  Phoebe  Bridges  and  has  John  (4), 
Dick  married  Oma  Shoemaker.  Sarah  (2)  married  William  H.  (see 
Farris).  Alice  (2)  married  John  Clymore  (see  Clymer).  Martha  (2) 
married  John  Dunn,  children  Herbert,  who  married  Sussie  Shelton; 
Lelia  married  Hartsell  Farris.  Blake  married  Bell  McMeakin;  Cora 
married  Fred  Willard;  Brooksie  married  Merrit  Howell,  Ward  married 
Carie  Webb;  Bryon  married  Alice  Farris;  Charles  (2)  removed  to 
Arkansas;  Tenny  (2)  married  J.  W.  Shinn,  children,  William  (3) 
married  Mable  Barber;  Ola  (3)  married  Dr.  Joseph  Gann,  Edward 
(3)  married  Marian;  Minnie  (3)  married  Ward  Marberry;  Davis  (3) 
Ray  (3)  and  Lura  (3);  Morgan  (2)  married  Ula  Carson;  Mary  (2) 
married  W.  N.  (see  McCorcle) ;  Cora  (2)  married  Charles  (see  Nobles) 
Minnie  (2)  not  married. 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY  423 


REESE 
Dr.  A.  P.  Reese  was  a  native  of  Tennessee  and  practiced  medicine 
in  Belknap  and  vicinity  for  several  years.  His  wife  was  Jane  Krews, 
of  Jackson  County.  Their  son  Samuel  H.  was  a  druggist  in  this 
county  for  more  than  a  quarter  of  a  century,  and  is  following  the  same 
business  in  Murphysboro.  He  married  Eila  Hartman  of  this  county 
(see  West).  Mary  D.,  daughter  of  Dr.  Reese  married  S.  D.  Peeler. 
Mrs  Peeler  is  the  only  member  of  Dr.  Reese's  family  remaining  in  the 
county.  Mrs.  T.  E.  Williamson  resides  in  St.  Louis,  Mo.  and  Mrs.  J.  D. 
Copeland,  another  daughter  in  Blythsville,  Arkansas. 

REID 
W.  L.  Reid  was  a  pioneer  Methodist  having  been  a  member  of  the 
church  fifty  years.  He  lived  near  New  Burnside,  and  his  home  was 
the  home  of  the  itinerant  minister.  He  was  born  in  Tennessee  in 
]826  and  was  a  resident  of  this  county  forty-two  years.  He  married 
Sarah  Robinson.  Their  children  were  Rev.  J.  Y.  Reid,  Mrs.  W.  P. 
Cole,  and  Mrs.  C.  M.  Parsons,  both  of  whom  reside  in  Pope  County. 
Three  brothers  also  of  this  county,  namely,  Charles  T.  of  Samoth, 
James  M.  and  George  W.  of  Burnside. 

REYNOLDS 
Elisha  Reynolds  was  a  revolutionary  soldier  serving  from  North 
Carolina  and  was  born  in  1754.  He  enlisted  1777,  pensioned  1832, 
died  1836.  It  is  believed  he  was  never  in  this  county,  but  the  fol- 
lowing is  found  on  our  court  records  of  1816,  "Elisha  Reynolds  and 
Thomas  Littlepage  vs.  Hannah  Borin."  Of  course,  this  may  not  have 
been  the  father  of  Ivy,  who  came  here  in  1817.  Elisha's  wife  was 
Judith  Edings  and  their  children  were  Sarah,  John,  Ellis,  Nancy, 
Polly,  Mary  and  Ivy.  One  of  these  daughters  married  Milton  Ladd's 
father.  Ivy  Reynolds,  the  first  settler,  his  grandson  John  Reynolds 
says,  came  from  North  Carolina  to  the  Northwest  and  with  a  Mr. 
Chapman,  his  wife,  and  a  Mr.  Drake  built  a  boat  and  floated  down  the 
Ohio  River  from  Cincinnati,  landing  at  what  is  now  Golconda.  Chap- 
man, his  wife  and  Drake  came  directly  to  Vienna,  while  Reynolds 
delayed  some  little  time,  finally  coming  to  Vienna.  He  entered  forty 
acres  of  land  on  the  west  side  of  the  original  plot  of  Vienna.  The 
northeast  corner,  being  about  the  corner  of  Green  and  Sixth  Streets. 
His  name  is  frequently  found  on  the  first  records  as  a  business  and  in- 
fluential man  of  the  community.  Ivy  (1)  married  Rebecca  Canada, 
presumably  a  sister  to  Jesse,  who  was  another  early  resident.  She 
is  buried  in  the  old  city  cemetery,  commonly  known  as  the  Hess 
graveyard,  where  her  gravestone  may  still  be  seen.  Their  children 
were  Wesley    (2)    and   Mary   Ann    (2).     Wesley    (2)    married   Sidney 


424         A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


(see  Simpson).  He  married  second  Frances  Bain.  Thomas  Reynolds 
(3)  ,son  of  Wesley  was  raised  on  a  farm  at  Reynoldsburg,  served  the 
county  as  assessor  and  treasurer,  was  a  successful  farmer  and  a  well 
known  man  of  the  county.  He  died  1907.  (For  family  see  Simpson). 
Mary  Ann  (2)  married  Basil  Gray.  They  had  Ivy  (3),  Alexander  J. 
(3),  Mary  A.  (3),  Wesley  (3)  and  Thomas  (3).  Ivy  (3)  married 
Elizabeth  Jones  (see  Simpson).  Alexander  J.  (3)  married  Arista 
Caldwell;  they  had  James  (4)  who  married  Margaret  Austin;  their 
children  are  Arista  (5),  Looney  (5)  married  (see  Marberry),  James 
(5),  Ted  (5),  Charles  (5),  Elizabeth  (5).  Alexander  J.  (3)  married 
second  Izora  Oliver  (see  Smith). 

Mary  A.  (3)  married  W.  W.  Peterson;  their  children  were  Basil 
(4),  who  resides  in  Vienna  and  is  the  present  city  clerk;  Olive  (4) 
married  James  Cole;  Charles  (4)  married  Alice  Elkins,  their  children 
are  Orb  (5)  who  married  Myrtle  Gore  and  they  have  Paul  and  Polly 
(6).  Olive  M.  (5)  is  a  teacher.  Thomas  Gray  (3)  married  Minnie 
Hayden  and  moved  to  Missouri- 
Ivy  Reynolds  (1)  married  second  Caroline  Angela.  The  children 
were  Elisha  (2),  Ivy  (2),  Francis  (2),  John  (2)  and  Bowen  (2).     Elisha 

(2)  married  Nancy  Traverstead,  and  their  children  are  Mrs.  Otto 
Palmer  (3),  Ivy  (3)  J.  W.  (3),  Mrs.  J.  J.  Wright  (3),  Mrs.  Frank 
Jones  (3),  Mrs.  J.  Worth  (3),  Ivy  Reynolds  (3)  is  a  farmer  of  this 
county  living  near  Simpson.  He  married  Florence  Robertson.  Their 
children  are  Nellie  (4),  Cordia  (4),  Loyd  (4),  Floyd  (4),  Guy  (4), 
Imogene  (4)  and  J.  W.  (4).  J.  W.  Reynolds  (3)  is  a  leading  business 
man  of  this  county  residing  at  Simpson,  111.,  where  he  conducts  a 
monument  factory-  He  married  first  Mollie  Rushing  and  their  chil- 
dren were  Herbert  (4),  John  Pleasant   (4),  Chester  Ross   (4).     J.  W. 

(3)  married  second  Mary  E.  Mount  and  the  children  are  Helen  (4), 
Margaret  (4).  Herbert  (4)  married  Ruby  Hood  and  is  a  business  man 
of  Herrin,  111.  They  have  Charles  Wesley  (5)  and  William  Howard 
(5).  John  Pleasant  (4)  married  Jewell  Elkins  and  has  John  Pleasant 
Jr.   (5). 

RENTFRO 
Rentfro  is  an  old  family  of  this  county,  being  found  on  the  earliest 
records.  The  wife  of  Dr.  Gibbs  was  a  Rentfro,  and  they  were  married 
in  1830.  William  S.  Rentfro  is  as  far  back  as  can  be  traced.  He 
married  Ruthie  and  settled  on  the  old  Rentfro  farm  in  1852.  Their 
children  were  Stephen  C,  Francis  A.,  Thomas  J.,  Rufus  J.,  Hannah 
B.,  Sarah  J.,  and  Elizabeth.  The  names  of  some  of  their  grandchil- 
dren are  W.  A.  Robbins,  G.  B.,  Joseph  and  Isaac  Rentfro.  One  of  the 
Rentfro  daughters  married  Mr.  Fitch,  one  son  C.  S.  Fitch  is  a  pros- 
perous farmer,  and  resides  on  the  old  home  farm  in  the  eastern  part 
of  the  county.     Elizabeth   Rentfro  married  R.   W.   Fitch,  who  was  a 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY  425 


native  of  Tennessee,  his  father,  Anderson  Fitch,  emigrating  from 
North  Carolina.  R.  W.  came  to  this  county  about  1861,  their  children 
were  William,  Anderson,  Charles,  Artabron,  John  Milton,  Minnie 
Belle,  Joseph,  Franklin,  Rachel,  Bertie,  Francis,   Ora  and  Lilly. 

RIDENHOWER 
The  founder  of  the  Ridenhower  family  in  this  country  was  born 
and  married  in  Germany,  coming  to  America  in  Colonial  times.  His 
son,  John  was  born  in  North  Carolina  and  was  the  father  of  Aaron, 
who  was  the  father  of  Harris  M.  Senior.  The  wife  of  Aaron  Ridenhow- 
-  r  was  Caroline  Miller,  also  a  native  of  North  Carolina.  H.  M.  Riden- 
hower Sr.  was  born  in  1824  and  was  only  ten  years  old  when  his 
father  died,  making  it  necessary  for  him  to  assist  in  the  support  of 
the  family.  When  fifteen  years  old,  he  worked  on  a  farm  for  three 
dollars  per  month  and  board,  except  during  harvest,  when  wages 
were  twenty-five  cents  a  day.  He  began  school  at  the  age  of  seven, 
but  after  his  father's  death,  was  obliged  to  give  up  school  until  he 
was  eighteen.  He  then  applied  himself  to  books  and  was  soon  able 
to  teach.  Mr.  Ridenhower  lived  in  North  Carolina  till  1846.  The 
failure  of  crops  in  that  section  and  the  strong  tide  of  emmigration  to 
the  west  influenced  him  to  the  extent  that  he  set  out  with  his  wife, 
one  child,  and  Mr.  Miller,  his  father-in-law  and  family  to  the  great 
prarie  state,  making  the  entire  journey  by  team.  He  lived  in  Union 
County  and  taught  there  till  1855,  when  he  removed  to  Johnson, 
where  he  continued  teaching  there  till  1855,  when  he  removed  to 
Johnson,  where  he  continued  teaching  till  1860.  That  yar  the  Demo- 
crats by  an  oversight  had  failed  to  nominate  a  corner.  The  Repub- 
licans nominated  Mr.  Ridenhower,  and  through  a  quiet  cam- 
paign elected  him,  although  there  were  but  forty  republican  votes  cast 
in  the  county.  The  sheriff  of  the  county  died  and  Mr.  Ridenhower, 
under  the  law  became  sheriff.  He  was  a  personal  friend  of  Abraham 
Lincoln  and  was  appointed  internal  revenue  collector  for  Johnson  and 
Union  Counties  under  him.  He  was  a  champion  of  the  Whig  party 
in  its  time,  was  always  a  strong  antislavery  man,  and  had  some  try- 
ing experiences  in  this  county  during  the  Civil  War.  He  voted  for 
Freemont  in  1856,  and  Lincoln  in  1860.  He  was  a  well  educated  and 
an  influential  man.  He  died  in  1869.  He  married  Levina  Miller,  a 
native  of  North  Carolina,  and  they  reared  nine  children.  Otto  L.  (2), 
Penina  (2)  married  a  Mr.  Howell,  E.  K.  (2)  married  Orpha  Blackmail 
and  removed  to  Hico,  Texas,  where  his  family  still  reside.  He  died 
1923.  Mary  A.  (2)  is  the  widow  of  W.  A.  Snow,  and  their  children 
are  Tennyson  (3)  who  resides  with  his  family  in  Logansport,  Ind., 
Loyd  (3)  married  Anna  Margrave.  They  have  Daniel  (4),  Marjory  (4) 
and  reside  on  the  Snow  farm.     Herman    (3)   is  married  and  lives  in 


426         A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


Fulton,  Ky.  Bernard  (3)  married  Coleman  Parker  and  lives  in  Winter- 
haven,  Florida.  They  have  John  Hamilton  (4).  Harris  M.  Jr.  (2) 
married  Agusta  Hess  (see  Chapman);  married  second  Nettie  Beaupre 
Carrie  L.  (2)  was  a  teacher  of  the  county  for  several  years  married 
J.  L.  Mount  and  died  without  children.  Addie  M.  (2)  is  teh  wife 
of  A.  M.  Berry,  a  farmer  of  Saline  County.  Rob  Roy  (2)  lives  a  short 
distance  east  of  Vienna.  He  married  Alice  Carter  and  they  have 
one  son,  Rob  Roy,  Jr.,  (3)  who  married  Essie  Jackson.  They  had 
Kimber  (4).  Rob  Roy  (2)  married  second  Miss  Cannon  of  Saline.  Rob 
Roy  (3)  married  second  Pearl  Veach.  Fleta  (2)  married  James  Gibson 
of  Goreville  Township,  their  children  were  Ray  (3)  who  served  in  the 
World  War  and  died  soon  after  from  the  effects  of  his  service.  Ber- 
nice  (3)  married  Young  Thornton  and  had  Lorene  (4),  James  (4);  sh3 
married  second  a  Mr.  Esque. 

Harris  M.  Ridenhower  Jr.,  was  born  in  Union  County,  Jan.  23, 
1855.  He  was  the  son  of  H.  M.  Ridenhower  whose  biography 
appears  above.  Harris  M.  received  his  education  in  this  county 
and  the  Southern  Illinois  Normal  at  Carbondal.  He  began  teaching 
when  only  sixteen  years  old  and  taught  and  attended  school  alter- 
nately till  1878  when  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar  and  began  the 
practice  of  law  in  Vienna.  He  served  as  States  Attorney,  elected 
1884.  He  began  early  to  buy  land,  and  had  he  lived  would  no  doubt 
have  been  the  largest  real  estate  holder  in  the  county.  He  was  a 
Republican,  as  his  father  before  him,  an  I.  O.  O.  F.,  had  quite  a 
taste  for  literature,  and  owned  a  splendid  collection  of  books.  He  died 
when  but  a  young  man.  He  was  first  married  to  Augusta  A.  (see 
Hess).  Mr.  Ridenhower  married  second,  Nettie  L.  Beaupre,  1890, 
of  Metropolis,  111.,  a  daughter  of  Wm.  D.  and  Mary  Beaupre.  Their 
children  were  Ruby,  married  Ralph  Cherry  of  Washington,  D.  C  and 
died  1922;  Leva  is  assistant  cashier  of  the  First  National  Bank  of 
Vienna,  111,  Jappy  married  Howard  Schroeder  of  Centralia,  111.,  and 
has  Howard  Jr.  Harris  married  J.  L.  Dodd  of  Elrado,  111.,  children 
Louise,  and  J.  L.  Jr. 

ROBERTSON 
J.  J.  Robertson  was  the  son  of  Mrs.  James  Green  (by  a  former 
husband),  of  Elvira  township.  He  was  a  teacher  in  the  county  for 
many  years,  as  well  as  a  progressive  farmer.  He  acquired  a  large 
tract  of  land  on  Lick  Creek  and  developed  it  into  a  comfortable  home 
and  productive  farm.  He  married  Alice  Brown  and  their  children 
are  Maud,  a  teacher.  Wayne  is  a  graduate  of  the  Chicago  School  of 
Veterinary  Surgery  practicing  at  Buncombe.  He  married  Lula 
Walker.  Birdie  married  Walter  Grinnell  who  is  a  teacher  in  Evans 
ville,  Ind.     Loyd  and  Jewel  are  also  teachers  making  their  home  with 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY  427 


their  mother.     Mure,  the  youngest  died  in  1922;   Mr.  Robertson  died 
1921. 

Russell  was  a  prominent  name  in  the  primitive  history  of  our 
county  Abraham  entered  land  here  in  1819,  which  is  now  owned  by 
R.  F.  Hayden,  Thacker  and  Dundas.  This  land  lies  on  the  Goreville 
Road  about  two  miles  north  of  Vienna.  Bean  Russell  lived  in  that 
neighborhood  about  sixty  years  ago  and  was  probably  his  son.  J.  O. 
Russell  entered  a  large,  tract  of  land  near  the  present  site  of  West 
Vienna,  which  is  now  owned  by  S.  T.  Brown,  C.  P.  Pucket,  L.  F.  Poor 
and  C.  D.  Nobles. 

SHEARER 

David  Shearer  took  an  active  part  in  the  development  of  the 
county.  Just  what  time  he  came  here  is  not  known.  He  lived  east 
of  Vienna  on  a  farm  which  is  now  owned  by  John  Dunn,  James  Beach 
and  others  1825.  He  is  buried  in  the  family  cemetery  on  the  old  farm. 
Tradition  says,  he  came  here  direct  from  Germany.  He  was  born  on 
the  river  Rhine,  June  6,  1773.  His  wife's  given  name  was  Esther; 
she  was  born  May  9,  1777.  Mrs.  Ann  Calhoun  who  was  born  in  1812 
and  was  by  her  first  marriage  a  daughter-in-law  of  John  Copeland, 
the  pioneer,  said  "  Dave  Shearer's  wife  was  a  daughter  of  Mattie 
Dial,  who  was  a  sister  of  John  Copeland."  The  children  of  Dave 
and  Esther  that  can  be  authentically  traced  were  Jane  (2),  Eupha 
(2),  Elizabeth  (2),  Hattie  (2).  Tradition  says  one  was  Henry  who 
had  eight  children  namely  Mary  (3)  who  married  Levi  Dunn,  Abraham 
(3),  George  (3),  James  (3),  Sidney  (3),  who  married  Cheek.  Perry 
(2).  Jane  (2)  was  born  October  22,  1810  and  married  Thomas  Jackson, 
who  was  born  in  Tennessee,  1807.  It  is  not  known  just  when  he 
came  to  the  county,  but  he  opened  what  is  known  as  the  Old  Rice 
place  on  the  county  line  between  Johnson  and  Massac,  then  Johnson, 
when  he  was  eighteen  years  old.  W.  T.  Johnson  a  son,  has  a  land 
grant  to  the  northeast  quarter  in  section  3  in  township  14,  south  of 
range  4  east.  This  land  was  entered  at  Shawneetown  in  the  year  1838, 
and  the  warrant  was  signed  by  Martin  Van  Buren.  The  certificate  num- 
ber is  3043.  Thomas  and  Jane  had  John  L.  (3)  W.  T.  (Buck)  (3), 
Jacob  F.  (Feck)  (3),  Melissa  (3)  and  Elizabeth  (3).  John  (L).  (3) 
married  Cynthia  Parker  and  had  Thomas  J.  (4),  Rosa  (4)  Thomas  J. 
(4)  married  Mollie  (see  Damron),  Rosa  (4)  married  Thomas  B. 
Powell.  Their  children  are  Bert  (5),  druggist  of  Carmi,  111.;  Gertrude 
(5),  wife  of  William  H.  Dayton,  of  Denver,  Colorado.  Thomas  (5) 
is  in  business  in  Los  Angeles,  Calif,  and  Ira  (5)  lives  in  Hammond, 
Indiana.  W.  T.  (3)  (Buck)  married  Ann  Lundy  and  had  Minnie  (4), 
who  married  William  (see  Simpson);  Cora  (4)  married  Harvey  Brat- 
ton  (see  Chapman).  Mattie  (4)  married  Mr.  Casto  and  had  Hildred 
(5),  William  (5)  lives  in  Lone  Oak,  Ark.     Ada  (4)  married  Mr.  Harris 


428         A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 

Herman  (5),  Helene  (5),  John  (5),  Geneca  (5),  Fred  (5).  William 
and  had  Herman  (5),  Halene  (5),  John  (5),  Geneca  (5),  Fred  (5).  Wil- 
liam (4)  lives  in  Detroit,  Mich.,  and  has  two  sons,  Hal  (4)  has  three 
children  and  lives  at  Mt.  Carmel.  J.  F.  (3)  married  Laura  Hewett  and 
they  had  Lavador  (4)  who  is  a  business  man  of  Vienna  and  married 
Dora  Abney;  they  have  Franklin  (5).  Ulrick  (4)  married  Margaret 
Simmons  and  is  a  resident  and  business  man  of  Goreville.  They  have 
Winifred  (5),  Elsworth  (5),  Charles  (5)  and  Louise  (5).  Elizabeth 
(4)  married  R.  T.  Chenault  and  has  Helen  (5),  Marjory  (5),  they  are 
also  residents  of  Goreville.  Henry  (3)  married  Rosa  Parker 
and  had  Lee  (4),  who  married  John  Sanders,  Charles- (4).  Melissa 
(3)  married  John  C.  Johnson  (see  Harvick) ;  Elizabeth  (3)  married 
James  Jackson. 

Eupha  (2)  married  James  Whiteside  (see  Whiteside).  Elizabeth 
(2)  married  Jackson  (see  Simpson;  Hattie  (2)  married  Samuel 
Vaugh.  Perry  (2)  married  Miss  Mathis  and  had  Fannie  (3).  Green- 
ville P.  Shearer  married  Minerva  Gurley  and  had  two  daughters,  per- 
haps others;  one  married  a  Mr.  Powell  and  they  had  one  daughter 
married  Herrin.     Jane  (3)  married  J.  B.  Hess  (see  Chapman). 

SHERIDAN 
Thomas  H.  Sheridan,  born  in  Pope  County,  1860;  taught  in  that 
county  several  years  and  was  county  superintendent  of  Pope  County 
Schools.  He  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1883  and  was  elected  to  the 
State  Senate  1890.  He  married  Fanny,  only  child  of  Josiah  and 
Abigal  Throgmorton  in  1892  and  came  to  Vienna  to  live.  He  practiced 
law,  edited  the  "News,"  served  as  Judge  and  States  Attorney  of  this 
county.  He  left  the  county  about  1914  moving  first  to  Cairo,  111.,  later 
to  Hutsonville,  111.,  where  he  died  in  1918.  He  was  a  republican,  a 
member  of  the  M.  E.  Church.  He  left  a  widow  and  one  child,  Josiah, 
who  is  a  druggist  and  lives  in  Chicago,  111. 

SHORT 
Mrs.  Barbara  Short  was  born  in  St.  Helena  Parish,  Louisana, 
1819.  Her  maiden  name  was  Leach.  She  came  to  Johnson  County. 
1835.  She  first  married  Eli  Hooker  and  had  one  daughter,  Mrs.  C.  C. 
Oliver,  who  lived  near  Simpson.  After  Mr.  Hookers  death  she  mar- 
ried Davis  Wright  and  had  James  (2)  who  married  Alpa  Woelfle  and 
they  had  Guy  (3),  Herman  (3),  James  (3)  and  Beatta  (3).  This 
family  resides  in  Kansas  with  the  exception  of  Herman  who  resides 
in  Decatur,  111.  Charles  (2)  married  Crynthia  Carlton  and  re- 
sides at  Creal  Springs.  Mr.  Wright  was  a  Civil  War  Soldier  who 
died  in  1862.  She  then  married  Samuel  Short  who  had  been  a  Mexi- 
can soldier.     Aunt  Barbara,  as  she  was   known   was  a   tailoress  and 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY         429 


in  the  early  days  of  this  county  was  a  most  useful  citizen.  She  was 
a  Baptist  in  belief  and  rather  an  excentric  character  of  much  native 
ability.    She  lived  to  a  very  old  age. 

SIMMONS 
Samuel  H.  Simmons  was  born  in  this  county  in  1840.  He  served 
in  the  Civil  War  in  the  60th  Illinois  Co.  K. ;  was  a  farmer  and  also 
the  postmaster  at  Tunnel  Hill  for  some  time.  He  married  (first) 
Nancy  Webb  and  after  her  death  Jennie  Dalton.  His  children  were 
John,  Samuel,  Jasper,  Nimrod,  the  two  latter  were  farmers  of  Tunnel 
Hill  Township  and  Nimrod  served  the  county  as  Deputy  Sheriff.  The 
daughters,  Doria,  married  John  Sutton.  Lutitia  married  E.  E.  Harris 
and  Delia  married  Charles  Choate.  Samuel  H.  was  a  member  of  the 
Latter  Day  Saints  Church. 

SIMPSON 

William  Simpson,  the  first,  spoke  of  in  early  settlers,  was  cap- 
tured by  the  Indians  tradition  says  and  taken  to  Michigan  when  a 
young  man.  He  was  finally  sold  to  the  English.  How  long  he  re- 
mained there  is  not  known.  His  son  Williams  was  born  in  that 
state.  William  Simpson,  Sr.,  was  a  native  of  North  Carolina  but 
came  to  this  county  from  Kentucky,  by  way  of  Shawneetown 
cutting  his  own  road  part  of  the  way.  1805  he  settled  near  Ft. 
Massac  and  Kaskaskia  trace  and  built  a  double  log  house  and  opened 
a  tavern.  His  name  appears  frequently  in  connection  with  county 
affairs  and  he  built  our  first  court  house.  The  maiden  name  of  his 
wife  was  Poll  yJones.  He  died  about  1825  or  1826.  His  grandaugh 
ter  Cynthia  born  in  1818  remembered  his  burial  which  occur 
ed  at  the  Simpson  cemetery  or  graveyard  as  they  were  then  konwn 
near  his  home.  William  Simpson,  Jr.,  was  born  about  1788  or 
1789.  He  was  quite  a  youth  when  his  father  came  to  this  county. 
The  name  William  Simpson  appears  on  the  volunteer  roll  of  Ctaptain 
Whiteside's  company  in  1812.  This  company  was  from  this  section  of 
the  state.  This  name  also  appears  on  the  Militia  roll  of  this  sec- 
tion. One  can  not  say  which  William  fits  In  each  place  but  a  son 
of  William  the  second  now  living  says  his  father  served  in  the  war 
of  1812.  William  second  setttled  on  a  farm  near  his  father,  known 
as  the  Keltner  place  now  owned  and  occupied  by  Thomas  Murrie. 

William  Simpson,  the  first,  married  Polly  Jones  and  they  had 
Sampuel  Stanton  (2),  Jackson  (2),  Daniel  (2),  Lewis  (2),  Willis  (2), 
William  (2)  and  two  daughters,  one  married  Calvert  the  other  Jobe. 
Samuel  Stanton  (2)  married  and  had  Larkin  Hogan  (3),  Jane  (3), 
Polly  (3,  John  (3).  Larkin  H.  (3)  married  Lucy  Ann  Riley  and  had 
Sidney   (4),  Emily   (4),  Samuel  Stanton   (4),  Margaret   (4),  who  died 


430  A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


in  young  womanhood,  Jackson  (4),  Cynthia  (4),  Martha  (4),  John 
(4),  and  Clara  (4).  Sidney  (4)  married  J.  M.  Shoat  and  they  had 
Fannie  (5),  Nell  (5),  and  Duff  (5);  Fannie  (5)  married  Bert  Bruce, 
Nell  (5)  married  William  Walsh,  Duff  (5)  married  Adah  Pharis; 
Samuel  Stanton  (4)  married  Martha  Scott  and  they  had  Walter  (5), 
Birdie  (5),  H.  (5),  Ray  (5),  Roy  (5).  Walter  (5)  married  Nell 
Mobley  and  Birdie  (6)  married  first  Mr.  Gurley  and  had  Lucy  (6). 
second  Omer  Frazer  and  has  three  sons;  Elmily  (4)  married 
George  Guinn  and  had  Edwin  (5),  Florence  (5),  and  Cynthia  (5). 
Edwin  (5)  married  Fanny  Howell  and  had  Alline  (6)  who  married 
Dewey  Clemont,  they  had  Edward  (7).  Edwin  (5)  married  second 
Mabel  Deaton  and  has  Edwin,  Jr.,  (6),  George  Leonard  (6);  Jackson 
(4)  married  Lilly  Belle  Hatt;  Martha  (4)  married  James  K.  Brown 
and  had  Ethel  (5)  who  married  Dave  Vinson  and  has  three  children; 
Lucy  (5)  married  Pickard  Montgomery  and  has  Pickard  (6) ;  John 
Logan  (4)  married  Mary  Walker;  Clara  (4)  married  Craig  White 
and  had  Madge  (5),  who  married  Walter  Hull  and  they  have  Craig 
(6)  and  Clara  (6) ;  Joshua  (3)  married  Brilla  Ann  Howell  and  their 
children  were  Hogan  (4),  Ruth  Ann  (4),  Taborn  (4),  India  (4).  Ruth 
Ann    (4)    married    Wayman   Cease,   and   has    three    children;    Taborn 

(4)  married  Lucy  Cagle  and  has  Frederick  (5),  Mary  (5);  India  (4) 
married  Frederick  Simmons  and  has  Orpha  (5),  Dot  (5),  Frederick 
(5).  Jane  (3)  married  Samuel  Howell  and  had  Nancy  Ann  (4),  A.  D. 
(4),  Joshua  (4),  Jane  (4),  Sidney  (4)  and  Belle  (4).  Nancy  Ann  (4) 
married  Thomas  Rentfro  and  has  William  (5),  Joshua  (5),  Sidney 
(5),  Charles  (5),  Lura  (5).  Joshua  (5)  married  Clara  Hard  and  has 
Liston  (6),  Laverne  (6);  Lura  (5)  married  Jasper  Ragan,  they  have 
two  children  and  live  in  Carbondale;  A.  D.  (4)  married  Sarah  Modglin 
and  has  Harry  (5)  who  married  a  Miss  Baker;  Joshua  (4)  married 
Tenny  Farris  and  they  have  Merrit  (5),  Duff  (5).  Merritt  (5)  mar- 
ried Roxie  Dunn  and  they  have  Marjory  (6);  Duff  (5)  married  Nel- 
lie Farris  and  has  Helen  (6);  Jane  (4)  married  Robert  Batson  and 
has  Arlington  (5),  Warder  (5),  Joseph  (5),  Dorothy  (5),  and  Ruth 
(5).     Arlington  (5)  married  Alta  Cagle  and  has  Bernard  (6);  Sidney 

(5)  married  Joseph  Holloway  and  has  Ulric  (6),  Marie  (6),  and  Sed- 
ric  (6);  Belle  (4)  married  Charles  Farris  and  has  Paul  (5),  Howell 
(5),  they  reside  in  Texas.  Polly  (3)  married  John  Gray  and  they 
had  Sarah  (4),  Ursula  (4),  Joshua  (4),  Larkin  (5),  Bud  (4).  Sarah  (4) 
married  Mr.  Clayton  and  had  Arista  (5)  who  married  Wesley  Rice; 
she  married  second  Wm.  Tigue  and  had  Joshua  (5)  and  Anna  (5) : 
Ursula  (4)  married  James  H.  Pearce  had  Oscar  (5),  Donie  (5),  Daisy 
(5),  Charles  M.  (5).  Oscar  (5)  married  Ruth  Todd  and  had  Mildred 
Alice  (6),  Mary  Francis  (6),  James  A.  (6);  Donie  (5)  married  Benja- 
min Staton,  had  Dorothy  (6),  Duff  (6),  Ruth   (6);   Daisy  (5)   married 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY  431 


Frank  Henderson  had  Paul  (6),  Hammond   (6),  Elje   (6),  Marion   (6) 
and  Clarence   (6);    Charles  M.   (5)   married  Francis  Bowyer  of  Farm- 
ington,    Mo.;     Ursula    (4)    married    second    Henry    Brennen.     Joshua 
(4)   married  Elizabeth   (Williams)   Darter  had  Ward   (5),  Gussie   (5). 
Larkin    (4)   married  Miss   Clayton;    Alexander   (4)    (Bud)    never  mar- 
ried.    John    Simpson    (3)    moved    to    Texas    years   ago.     Jackson    (2) 
married   Elizabeth   Shearer   and   had   Amanda    (3),    John   Hiram    (3), 
Sidney    (3),   Mary    (3),    Francis    Marion    (3),   Euphie    (3),    and   Eliza- 
beth  (3).     Amanda    (3)   married  Thomas  Jones,  a  son  of  James   the 
pioneer,   they   had   John   Monroe    (4),   Francis   Marion    (4),   Elizabeth 
Jane    (4),   Sidney    Clarissa    (4),   Franklin   Morris    (4),   Mary   Ann    (4), 
Thomas    Wesley    (4),    Barrila   Isabell    (4),    and   Juliet    Susanna    (4). 
John  M.    (4)   married  Mariah  Rose  and  they  had  James  Monroe   (5). 
Olive   (5),  Pleasant   (5),  Frank  (5),  Charles    (5),  Herschel   (5),  Maud 
(5).     James  M.  (5)  married  Venie  Abney,  and  had  Ethel  (6)  who  mar- 
ried   Otto   Murrie   and   Mimple    (6).     Most   if   not   all   of   this    family 
have   moved   out  of   the   county.     Francis   Marion    (4)    served   in   the 
Civil  War,  was  a  resident  of  New  Burnside  in  its  thriving  days,  was 
later   elected   county   clerk   and   removed   to  Vienna,   where  he   lived 
until   his   death.     He   married   Martha  Ann   McKee    and   had   Fannie 
(5),  Belle  (5)  and  Thomas  (5).     Fannie  (5)  married  Dr.  J.  T.  Looney, 
and  they  have  Marion  A.  (6),  Robert  (6).     Marion  (6),  married  Helen 
Dudley   and   is   a  prominent   attorney   of   Oklahoma   City;    they   have 
Georgia  (7),  Francis  (7),  and  Marion  (7);  Robert  T.  (6)  is  a  banker  of 
Tishomingo  and  married  Jessie  Renny,  they  have  Robert  T.  Jr.,   (7), 
and   Marian    (7);    Belle    (5)    married   Grant   Borin   of   St.    Louis,   Mo. 
They  had  Martha   (6),  who  married  Dr.   Harbdrecht  of  Chicago,   111. 
Thomas   (5)  married  Eva  Estus,  children,  Martha,  Robert  and  others. 
This  family  has  removed  from  the  county.     Elizabeth  J.   (4)   married 
Ivy  Gray  and  had  Basil  (5),  who  married  Carrie  Burris  and  they  have 
Ivy  (6),  Mary  Ann    (6),  Walter   (6),  Carrie  Ruth   (6),  Robert  Bernard 
(6),  and  Francis  (6).     Ivy  (6)  married  Hattie  Bellisine  and  has  Violet 
(7),  Basil  (7),  Evangeline  (7),  and  Robert  (7).     Mary  A.  (6)  married 
Herschel   Bush  and   has   Wrilliam  Gray    (7);     Walter  B.    (6)   married 
Eva  Percell;   Elizabeth  J.   (4)  married  second  W.  H.  Cooper  and  had 
Dora  (5),  Arista  (5)  and  Thomas  (5.  Dora  (5)  married  Lewis  Lowery 
and  has  Fred  (6)  and  Paul  (6) ;  Arista  (5)  married  first  Luther  Cope 
and  has  Marguerite  (6);  she  married  second  Randolph  Hewitt  and  has 
Mary  (6) ;  Thomas  (5)  married  Nellie  Rhider;  Sidney  C.  (4)  married 
Pryor  Nelson;  Frank  (4)  married  Mary  McKee  and  had  Arthur  (5) ;  he 
married  second  Margaret  Keltner  and  had  Arista   (5)    and  Ned   (5); 
he  married  third  Sidney  Rollin;    they  had  Rilla   (5)    and  Nora   (5); 
Arthur   (5)  married  Minnie  Harper;   Arista   (5)   married  James  Ellis; 
Ned  M.    (5)   married  Myrtle  Miller  and  had  Ned   (6);   Mary  Ann   (4) 


432         A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 

married  George  H.  Huffman,  1868  and  they  have  Maud  (5),  Gertrude 
(5),  Clara  (5),  Dolly  A.  (5),  Mamie  (5),  Daisy  G.  (5),  Charles  J.  (5), 
Francis  M.  (5).  Maud  (5)  married  Dr.  C.  A.  McConnell,  who 
is  a  physician  of  Hot  Springs,  Ark.,  and  they  have  Herbert  Spencer 
(6);  Gertrude  (5)  married  Campbell  Allard  and  their  children  are 
Zona  (6),  Ray  (6),  Maud  (6),  and  Charlotte  (6);  Zone  (6)  married 
Dawson  Farris  and  has  Allard  (7);  Ray  (6)  married  Phylis  Ragsdale 
and  has  Jannett  (7),  George  Dale  (7),  Mary  Ellen  (7);  Maud  (6)  mar- 
ried Kenneth  Sutten  and  has  Rose  L.  (7),  Kenneth  (7),  William  (7); 
Charlotte  (6)  married  Victor  Bazley  and  has  Warren  Victor  (7); 
Clara  (5)  married  W.  L.  Gillespie  and  has  Mary  Ann  (6),  Franklin  and 
Francis  (6),  Georgia  (6),  William  (6);  Dolly  A.  (5)  married  Milo 
Palmer  and  has  George  E.  (6),  a  graduate  of  the  Naval  Acadamy  and 
now  serving  in  the  United  States  Navy  as  Ensign  and  Milo 
(6),  a  student  at  the  University  of  Illinois;  Mamie  (5)  married 
Edward  Egan  of  Chicago,  who  died  a  few  years  after  their 
marriage  leaving  Catherine  (6),  Pearl  (6),  and  Georgiana  (6);  Daisy 
G.  (5)  married  Harry  Carter  (see  Harvick) ;  Charles  J.  (5),  married 
Eva,  daughter  of  Dr.  P.  S.  McKenzie;  F.  M.  married  Nellie  I.  Gray; 
(see  Smith) ;  Thomas  W.  (4)  married  Martha  Ann  Harper  and  they 
had  Juila  (5),  Millie  (5),  Fred  (5),  Delia  (5).  Julia  (5)  married  Wil- 
liam Scott  and  had  Jewell  (6),  Lewis  (6)  Letha  6;  Delia  (5)  married 
Fred  Veach  and  has  Alice  (6),  Martha  ^(6),  Phillip  (6)  and  Mildred 
(6);  Brilla  I.  (4)  married  John  Slack  and  has  Maud  (5),  Guy  (5), 
Walter  (5),  Tully  (5),  Mabel  (5),  Clyde  (5)  and  Lester  (5).  Walter 
(5)  married  Eva  Boyt,  (see  Boyt).  Mrs.  Slack  and  children  are  resi- 
dents of  Vienna  and  are  the  only  ones  of  this  family  now  living  in 
the  county.  Juliet  S.  (4)  married  W.  R.  Rodman  and  had  Elsie  (5), 
who  married  Frank  Orr  and  has  William  F.  (6);  Minnie  (5)  married 
Elihu  Snyder  and  they  have  May  (6),  Lena  (6),  Helen  (6),  Albert  (6), 
William  (6).  John  Hiram  (3)  married  Mary  Ann  Grissom  and  they 
had  Thomas  J.  (4),  Mary  E.  (4),  John  A.  (4),  Amanda  M.  (4),  Julia 
J.  (4),  Eliza  M.  (4),  James  P.  (4),  Dora  A.  (4),  Franklin  G.  (4),  Henry 
T.  (4),  India  B.  (4),  Adolphus  J.  (4).  Thomas  J.  (4)  born  1851,  mar- 
ried India  Moore  and  they  had  Cora  (5),  Olive  (5),  Claud  (5),  Harry 
(5),  Blanch  (5);  Cora  (5)  married  Charles  Lewis;  Olive  (5)  married 
Herron  Wright  and  had  Jerald  (6) ;  Harry  (5)  married  Martha  and 
they  have  Opal  (6) ;  Blanch  (5)  married  Elmer  Davis  and  they  have 
Fay  (6) ;  Mary  E.  (4)  born  1853  married  James  Sharp  and  they  had 
John  (5),  who  married  Mamie  Perry,  Mary  E.  (4)  married  second 
William  Robinson,  and  had  Buelah  (5),  who  married  Isaac  Miller 
and  their  children  are  Pauline  (6),  and  Joseph  (6);  John  (4)  born  in 
1855  married  Sidney  McKee  and  they  had  Oscar  (5),  Effie  (5),  Maud 
(5),    Dimple    (5),    Charles    (5),    Earl    (5).     Oscar    (5)    married    Lula 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY         433 

Brown  and  has  Estella  (6),  George  (6),  Lee  (6),  Guy  (6),  and  Dor- 
othy (6),  Estella  (6)  married  Robert  Hook;  Effie  (5)  married  E.  D. 
Mooneyham  and  they  have  Roscoe  (6),  Paul  (6),  Carl  (6),  and  Randall 
(6);  Dimple  (5)  married  Guy  Hayden  and  has  Emil  (6);  Charles  (5) 
married  Bertha  Arnett  and  has  Caroline  (6)  and  May  (6) ;  Earl  (5) 
married  Ola  McFatridge;  Maud  (5)  not  married.  James  P.  (4)  born 
1867  married  Norma  McFatridge  and  they  have  Oma  S.  (5),  Robert  O. 
(5),  Edna  (5),  James  Esco  (5).  Oma  (5)  married  Lloyd  Cooper;  Rob- 
ert O.  (5)  married  Edith  Brown,  and  they  have  Louise  (6)  and  James 
Marshall  (6);  Edna  (5)  married  Edward  Vanleleve  (see  Chapman). 
Henry  T.  (4)  born  1874  married  Cora  Trigg  and  has  Claude  (5),  Virgil 
(5),  Roy  (5),  Pearl  (5),  Gaynell  (5).  India  Belle  (4)  born  1875  married 
Monroe  Thomas  and  they  have  Mabel  (5),  Lily  (5),  William  (5),  Ward 
(5),  Opal  (5),  Gladys  (5),  Margaret  (5),  James  (5);  Dolphus  J.  (4) 
born  1877  married  India  Barnwell  and  they  have  Otto  (5),  Lela  (5), 
May  (5),  Clara  (5),  Nellie  (5).  Frank  G.  (4)  born  1871  married 
Abby  Thomas  and  they  have  Rittie  (5).  Sidney  (3)  married  Wesley 
Reynolds  and  had  Thomas  (4),  who  married  Alice  Walker,  they  had 
Robert  (5),  Mary  (5),  Dee  (5),  Frank  (5),  William  (5),  Elizabeth  (5); 
Mary  Ann  (4)  married  Charles  A.  Bain;  they  removed  to  Arkansas,  for 
family  (see  Bain). 

Francis  Marion  (3)  married  first  Julia  Jennett  ,and  had  William 
Calvert  (4),  who  married  Cora  Jackson,  they  had  Jeannette  (5),  Fran 
ces  (5),  William  C.  (5),  Florence  (5).  Francis  (5)  married  Dr.  James 
Wallace  and  has  Jean  (6),  Barbara  (6),  they  reside  in  Chicago;  Wil- 
liam C.  (5)  married  Grace  Raines  and  lives  in  Querque,  N.  M. 
Florence  (5),  married  Pleasant  T.  Chapman,  Jr.,  and  they  have  Betty 
Ann  (6);  Francis  M.  (3)  married  second  Mrs.  Margaret  (Beal)  Cope- 
land  and  had  Francis  Marion  (4),  who  married  Mame  Baldwin  and 
they  have  Frances  Marion  (5),  Josephine  (5).  Euphy  (3)  married 
William  McKee;  Elizabeth  (3)  married  Pleasant  Grissom. 

Daniel  (2)  married  Mary  Reed  and  had  Daniel  (3),  Narcissa  (3), 
William  (3),  Catherine  (3),  Adeline  (3),  Lewis  D.  (3),  Eliza  (3),  John 
Reed  (3),  Mary  (3).  Daniel  (3)  married  Jane  Shelton  and  they  had 
John  R.  (4)  Thomas  (4),  Adeline  (4),  Martha  (4),  Anna  (4),  Jane  (4). 
John  (4)  married  Martha  Robinson,  and  had  Elmer  (5),  Elenora  (5), 
Guy  (5).  Thomas  (4)  married  Lida  Moore  and  had  Alice  (5)  and 
Oliver  (5);  Adeline  (4)  married  Thomas  Veach  and  had  Walter  (5), 
who  married  Dora  Farmer,  they  had  Thomas  (6) ;  Martha  (4)  married 
Joseph  Taylor  and  had  Delia  (5),  Elbert  (5).  Delia  (5)  married  Bert 
Goins;  Anna  (4)  married  C.  M.  Murrie,  they  had  Rosco  (5),  Elsie  (5), 
Grace  (5),  Effie  (5).  Elsie  (5)  married  Joe  Alexander,  Grace  (5) 
married  Jackson  Goins,  Effie  (5)  married  Rosco  Grant,  and  had  Oma 
(6),  who  married  Thomas  Gomer.     Narcissa  (3)  married  Mr.  Johnson, 


434         A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 

they  had  Mary  (4)  who  married  Gilbert  Barnett,  they  had  William 
(5),  married  Amanda  Boomer-  Thomas  (5)  married  Addie  White; 
Hosea  (5)  married  Laura  Rickard  they  had  Jessie  (6)  who  married 
Lawrence  Hunsaker,  (see  Bridges);  Mary  (6)  married  Floyd  Lasley 
and  had  Floyd  Jr.  (7);  Robert  (5)  married  Leona  Goddard;  Flora  (5) 
married  William  Gold;  Rosa  (5)  married  William  Maze,  and  Frank 
(5)  married  Addie  Burklow;  Narcissa  (3)  married  second  John  Rus- 
sell and  had  Catherine  (4)  and  Thomas  (4).  Catherine  (4)  married 
James  Beggs,  they  had  Frank  (5),  Catherine  (5),  Fred  (5),  Lula  (5); 
Thomas  (4)  moved  to  Kentucky. 

Catherine  (3)  married  John  Elkins  and  had  Kizie  (4),  Mary  (4), 
Ann  (4).  Kizie  (4),  married  Ned  Stewart,  Mary  (4)  married  Tobias 
Scott,  Ann  (4)  married  Frank  Hall  and  had  Catherine  (5),  Rora  (5), 
Emma  (5),  Margaret  (5),  John  (5);  Catherine  (3)  married  second 
James  Walker,  they  had  Margaret  (4)  and  John  (4).  Margaret  (4) 
married  Eli  Ballow  (see  Gore).  John  (4)  married  Ellen  Peeler,  re- 
moved to  Union  county.  William  (3)  married  Patsy  Jones  (2)  and 
they  had  Narcissa  (4)  and  Mary  (4).  Narcissa  (4)  married  W.  A. 
Spann,  they  had  Flora  (5),  Mattie  (5),  Lula  (5),  Ida  (5),  Hal  (5), 
William  (5).  Flora  (5)  married  Alexander  Hess  (see  Chapman) 
Mattie  (5)  married  Addison  Cantwell;  Lula  (5)  married  Levi  J.  Smith, 
children,  Helen  (6),  Robert  (6);  Ida  (5)  married  R.  E.  Gillespie  and 
has  Martha  (6);  Hal  A.  (5)  married  Mamie  Farris  and  they  have- 
Mary  (6),  Helen  (6);  William  (5)  single;  Mary  (4)  married  Thomas 
Elkins  and  had  William  (5),  Martha  (5),  Sarah  (5),  Leila  (5).  Wil- 
liam (5)  married  Lily  (see  Mathis).  Lela  (5)  married  Jefferson 
Smith.  .  Lewis  Dee  (3)  married  Elizabeth  Anderson,  they  had  John 
Reed  (4),  Martha  J.  (4),  William  (4),  Mary  (4),  Maranda  A.  (4), 
Daniel  (4),  Lewis  Dee  (4).  John  Reed  (4)  raised  eleven  children; 
Martha  (4)  married  Mr.  Miller  and  had  nine  children;  Wililam  (4) 
married  a  Miss  Bradley  and  they  had  two  children;  Mary  (4)  married 
Jasper  Primm  and  had  John  J.  (5),  Florence  (5),  Nell  (5),  Alfonzo 
(5),  Thomas  (5),  Ann  (5),  Elsie  (5),  Alonzo  (5);  Daniel  (4)  married 
Sarah  Gore  and  had  three  children;  L.  Dee  (4)  married  Miss  Cox, 
they  had  three  children,  Maranda  A.  single;  Eliza  (3)  married  a  Mr. 
Shelby;  Adaline  (3)  married  Samuel  Braur;  Mary  (3)  married  Thom- 
as M.  Eubanks.  Willis  Simpson  (2)  had  William  Larison  (3),  Stephen 
(3).  There  is  a  James  (3)  who  was  killed  in  the  Civil  War,  John, 
Nancy  who  married  William  May  and  Mary  that  belong  in  this  fam- 
ily and  I  presume  are  children  of  Willis  2.  William  Larison  (3) 
married  Charlott  Stone,  they  had  Thomas  J.  (4),  James  H.  (4),  Green 
(4),  Cynthia  Elizabeth  (4),  Nancy  Jane  (4).  Thomas  J.  (4)  married 
Melissa  Hodge  and  had  Ida  (5),  Gussie  (5),  William  Green  (5),  Ed- 
ward  (5);   James  H.   (4)   married  Mary  Ann  Weston,  they  had  Winty 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY  435 


(5),  William  (5),  who  married  Delle  Median  and  had  Wilber  (6), 
Arthur  (5),  and  Delia  (5);  Green  (4)  served  in  the  Civil  War  and 
was  a  resident  of  Bloomfield  township  many  years  where  he  was  well 
and  favorably  known.  He  married  Lina  Miller  and  they  had  Robert 
(5),  Edgar  (5),  Lula  (5),  May  (5),  Ethel  (5),  Dimple  (5),  Mattie.(5), 
Eulala  (5),  Ward  (5),  Madge  (5).  Robert  (5)  married  Carrie  Hailey, 
they  have  Halbert  (6),  Robert  (6);  Edgar  (5)  married  Elizabeth 
Mozley  (see  Worley)  Eulala  (5)  married  Ward  Farris;  May  (5)  mar- 
ried Clarence  Alexander  and  has  Dorothy  (6);  Ethel  (5)  married 
W.  A.  Whiteside  and  has  Cathline  (6),  Hilda  (6),  Paul  (6);  Dimple  (5) 
married  Delbert  Kerley  and  has  Homer  (6)  and  Maurice  (6) ;  Eulala 
(5)  married  Gomer  Casey  and  has  Larry  (6),  Daniel  (6),  Donald  (6), 
Ward  (5)  and  Madge  (5)  at  home;  Mattie  (5)  married  Guy  Stegall 
and  has  Guy,  Junior  (6);  Cynthia  E.  (4)  married  Berry  Adkins  and 
had  Robert  (5),  Carl  (5),  Clara  (5);  Nancy  Jane  (4)  married  James 
Wadkins,  has  John  L.  Simpson  (5)  who  lives  in  Chaffee,  Mo.  William 
Larison  (3)  married  second  Paralee  Hodge  and  had  Mary  (4),  Ann 
Eliza  (4),  Willis  A.  (4),  William  Lewis  (4).  Mary  (4)  married 
George  Smith  and  lives  in  Arkansas;  Ann  Eliza  (4)  married  John 
Pippins  and  has  Fred  (5)  and  Lewis  (5).  Willis  A.  (4)  married 
Mary  Lemon;  William  L.  (4)  married  Dolly  Trover.  The  two  later 
families  live  in  Oklahoma.  Stephen  (3)  married  Eliza  Scuerlock  and 
has  John  (4),  Ella  (4),  Alice  (4),  Minnie  (4),  Daisy  (4),  Lloyd  (4) 
and  Henry  (4).  They  reside  in  Marion,  111.,  where  Stephen  (3)  re- 
sides with  his  daughter. 

William  (2)  married  first  Kezia  Parmalee,  they  had  Thomas 
(3),  Jackson  (3),  Lewis  (3),  Daniel  Dectur  (3),  Cynthia  (3), 
Lucinda  (3),  Eliza  (3), Mary  (3).  Thomas  (3)  married  first  in  this 
county  and  had  two  children;  he  married  second  Melissa  Jobe,  his 
cousin.  They  lived  in  Iowa  no  issue;  Jackson  (3)  married  first 
Louisa  Copeland  and  had  Preston  (4),  Cynthia  (4),  William  R.  (4), 
Sarah  (4),  (all  that  is  known).  Preston  (4)  married  Hester  Axley  of 
this  county;  Sarah  (4)  married  a  Mr.  Nickols;  Cynthia  (4)  mar- 
ried William  Huffmeister  of  Beloit,  Kans.,  they  had  Cynthia  N. 
(5),  Minnett  (5),  Charles  (5),  Fred  (5).  Cynthia  (5)  married 
Minnett  (5)  married  Dr.  Blades  of  Salina,  Kans.  The  two  sons 
live  in  Kansas  City,  Mo.  William  R.  (4)  married  Sarah  Car 
son,  children  Grace  (5),  Alice  (5),  Edna  (5),  Edith  (5); 
Maud  (5),  Ray  H.  (5).  Grace  (5)  married  G.  G.  Hoag;  Alice  (5)  mar 
ried  N.  J.  Petre  of  Topeka,  Kans.;  Edith  (5)  married  G.  G.  White  of 
Rochell,  N.  Y.;  Maud  (5)  married  Dr.  C.  B.  Kern  of  Beloit,  Kans. 
Ray  H.  (5)  married  Hallie  Carter  and  resides  at  Flagstaff,  Ariz. 
Jackson  (3)  married  second  Mrs.  (Glass)  Morton  of  Massac  county, 
they  had  one  son.     Lewis   (3)   was  a  Presbyterian  minister  and  serv- 


436         A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


ed  in  the  Civil  War  as  a  chaplain.  He  married  Martha  Thomas,  they 
had  John  Bunion  (4),  Lucinda  (4),  Luamma  (4),  Washington  (4), 
James  (4).  John  Bunion  (4)  married  Martha  Carter,  children  Mary 
(5),  Elizabeth  (5),  Arista  (5),  Sidney  (5),  Franklin  (5),  Cynthia  (5). 
Mary  (5)  married  Sherman  Whiteside,  children  John  S.  (6)  Frank 
(6),  Fred  (6),  Estella  (6),  Ethel  (6).  Elizabeth  (5)  married  C.  D. 
Simmons,  children;  Wiley  (6)  married  Pearl  Schenk;  Anna  (6)  mar- 
ried J.  D.  Benson,  John  (6),  Alonzo  (6),  Edward  (6),  Jewell  (6); 
Arista  (5)  married  Walter  Johnson,  children  Fred  (6),  Walter  (6). 
Estella  (6);  Arista  (5)  married  second  Agustus  Wartoog;  Sidney  (5) 
married  J.  B.  Johnson,  children  Ernest  (6),  John  (6),  Nellie  (6); 
Franklin  (5)  married  Eva  Kincanon,  children  Walter  (6),  Ray  (6); 
married  second  Rhoda  Sharp,  children  Estell  (6),  Daisy  (6);  Cynthia 
(5)  married  Franklin  Worth;  Lucinda  (4)  married  Isaac  Bratton, 
Luamma  (4)  married  Jefferson  Morris;  Washington  (4)  married 
Nanie  Davis.  Daniel  D.  (3)  born  1835  married  Sarah  Lawrence  of 
Marion,  111.,  1855,  they  had  Jennie  (4)  born  1857,  Elward  (4)  bom 
1859,  Winnie  (4),  born  1862,  William  R.  (4),  born  1864,  Julia  (4)  born- 
1866.  Jennie  (4)  married  Dr.  Charles  Covington  1881  and  had  four 
sons  and  three  daughters,  lives  in  Golconda,  111.;  Edward  (4)  married 
Nettie  Heisley  and  had  one  son  and  one  daughter;  Winnie  (4)  mar 
ried  Johnathan  Gaskins  of  Harrisburg,  111.,  and  had  Wirt  (5),  she 
married  second  a  Mr.  McCormick,  has  two  children  and  lives  in 
Indiana;  William  R.  (4)  married  Etta  L.  Jacobs  1894,  of  this  county 
and  has  George  B.  (5)  born  1897,  Ralph  (5)  born  1901,  Ardith  (5) 
born  1905,  Leonard  (5)  born  1910;  Julia  (4)  married  Frank  Scurlock 
of  Mariou  and  had  five  sons;  Decatur  (3)  married  second  Fronia 
Peoples  1873  and  had  one  son  Benjamin  (4)  born  1877  who  lives  in 
Oklahoma;  Cynthia  (3),  born  1818  married  A.  J.  Kuykendall  and  had 
Kate  L.  (4),  Mary  J.  (4),  Sarah  (4),  Elizabeth  (4),  Joseph  B.  (4), 
Edith  (4).  Kate  (4)  married  Jasper  Johnson  and  had  children  An- 
drew Jackson  (5),  Agustas  (5),  Walter  (5),  and  Joseph  B.  (5). 
Agusta  (5)  married  Mr.  Bitterich;  Walter  married  Arista  and  J.  B. 
married  Sidney  (see  Lewis  (3).  Mary  (4)  married  W.  E.  Morris  and 
had  Alice  (5),  who  married  W.  E.  Beal,  their  children  are  Essie  (6), 
who  married  Arthur  Weber  and  Eugean  (6)  who  married  Thomas 
Wright;  Emma  (5)  married  Agustus  Brockman,  children  Carrie  (6), 
Alice  (6)  married  Chas.  Owen  and  has  Mary  Lee  (7).  Sarah 
(4),  married  George  Sanders  and  had  Dora  (5)  who  married 
Harry  Mitchel  of  Harrisburg,  111.;  Sarah  (4)  married  second  Mr. 
McDermott  and  had  Thomas  W.  (5),  who  took  the  name  of  his  step- 
father, Wiederman;  he  married  and  has  Zella  Marie  (6);  Sarah  (4) 
married  third  Philip  Wiederman;  Elizabeth  (4),  married  Marian 
Collins   and    had   Mamie    (5),    Cynthia    (5),    Joseph    (5).     Mamie    (5) 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY  437 


married  Mr.  Craig;  Joseph  B.  (4)  married  Eliza  Gorham  and  their 
children  were  Carrie  (5),  A.  J.  Jr.  (5),  Franklin  S.  (5),  and  Guy  Simp- 
son (5).  Carrie  (5)  married  Rodman  Woelfle  and  had  Joseph  R. 
(6),  who  married  Gertrude  Gillespie  and  they  have  Francis  R.    (7); 

A.  J.  (5)  married  Eva  Benson  (see  Chapman).  A.  J.  (5)  is  a  gradu- 
ate of  DePau  University  and  the  law  department  of  the  University 
of  Illinois.  He  is  a  business  man,  with  F.  S.  (5)  and  Guy  (5), 
of  Marion,  111.,  and  devotes  much  time  to  the  Boy  Scouts  of 
America.  Franklin  (5)  married  Mabel  Beard  and  has  Joseph  (6)  and 
Franklin  (6);   Guy  S.  (5)   married  Ethel  Lewis  and  has  Helen  (6),  J 

B.  (4);  married  second  Minnie  Griffy.  Edith  (4)  married  Almus  G. 
Damron  and  had  Mamie  (5)  who  married  and  lives  in  New  York 
City  and  Wirt  (5)  who  is  an  attorney  of  Harrisburg,  111.;  Eliza  (3) 
married  Captain  William  Perkins  and  had  India  (4),  Henry  S.  (4),  J. 
K.  (4),  A.  J.  (4),  William  E.  (4).  India  (4)  married  W.  E.  Galeener 
and  their  children  are  Amy  (5),  Claude  (5),  Halbert  (5),  George  (5). 
Kenneth  (5),  Mabel  (5).  Amy  (5)  married  J.  E.  Miller  and  lives 
in  Calexico,  Calif.;  Claude  (5)  married  Elsie  Bishop  and  has  Hazel 
May  (6),  Gertrude  (6),  Lucile  (5),  Edith  (6),  Bennie  (6).  They  live  io 
Oklahoma;  Halbert  (5)  married  Lena  Marshall  and  has  John  W.  (6), 
Lynn  H.  (6),  Jerry  (6)  and  reside  in  Sikeston,  Mo.;  George  E.  (5) 
married  Bess  M.  (see  Chapman);  Kenneth  (5)  married  Pauline  Car- 
rier and  has  Rosalie,  (6)  and  Courtland  (6);  Mabel  (5)  married  Dr. 
Frank  Carter  (see  Harvick) ;  Henry  S.  (4)  married  Hattie  Jones,  they 
had  Belle   (5),  Dimple   (5),  William   (5),  Eliza   (5),  Nellie   (5).     Belle 

(5)  married  Frank  (see  Gillespit) ;  Dimple  (5)  married  W.  H.  Gilliam, 
children  Frank   (6),  Lois   (6),  Marian    (6)   who  died  in  youth.     Frank 

(6)  married  Nell  Richardson  and  has  Charles  R.  (7),  Olive  (7),  Frank, 
Jr.  (7),  William  H.  (7),  Robert  (7),  Richard  (7).  Lois  (6)  married 
William  Shawmeeker;  William  (5)  married  Clara  Donahue,  they 
had  William  (6)  and  Robert  (6);  Eliza  (5)  married  Warren  Hollis- 
ter;  Nell  (5)  married  Chas.  H.  (see  Chapman);  J.  K.  Polk  (4)  mar- 
ried Elizabeth  Neal.  They  had  Madge  Williford,  who  married  Wil- 
liam Cliver  and  has  Virginia;  Andrew  J.  (4),  married  Sarah  Rauls, 
children  Harry  (5),  Fred  (5),  Nell  (5),  Arthur  (5).  Harry  (5)  mar- 
ried Josephine  Mays,  they  have  Thomas  (6);  Fred  (5)  married  Anna 
(McDaniel)  Penrod;  Nell  (5)  married  W.  C.  Siebert;  Arthur  (5)  mar- 
ried Elsie  Bender,  they  have  Margaret  Helen  (6);  William  E.  (4)  mar- 
ried Jessie  Black,  they  had  May  (5)  who  married  William  Banks. 
Lucinda  (3)  married  first  Jackson  Fisher  and  had  Obe  (4),  Milo  (4) 
and    Mary    (4).     Obe    (4)    married   and    died   young    leaving   children 

Lucinda   (5)   and  Jackson   (5).     Milo   (4)   married  late  in  life 

and  reared  a  family  in  Winnona,  Mo.  Mary  (4)  married  R.  M.  Fisher 
and  had  Estella  (5),  Lucinda  (5)  George  H.  (5).     Estella  (5)  married 


438         A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


W.  H.  Shields  had  one  child  and  died;  Lucinda  (5)  is  a  trained  nurse. 
This  family  with  the  father  reside  in  Longbeach,  Calif.  Lucinda  (3) 
married  second  Samuel  (see  Copeland) ;  Mary  (3)  born  1827  married 
Washington  G.  Thomas  and  had  W.  H.  (4),  Malinda  (4),  John  L. 
(4),  Cynthia  (4),  Mary  (4),  Robert  (4).  Cynthia  (4)  married  Robert 
Thompson;  daughters  Effie  (5),  Mary  (5),  Theodocia  (5);  W.  H.  (4) 
married  Martha  Whiteside  (see  Thomas);  Mary  (4)  married  J.  H.  Mor 
phus  and  has  one  son;  Mary  (3)  married  second  W.  H.  Barnwell.  Wil 
liam  Simpson  (2)  married  second  Miss  Smith  sister  to  Barney  S.  and 
had  James  (3),  who  married  Lula  Arrison,  they  had  William  (4),  Polk 
(4),  Fred  (4),  Thomas  (4),  Fanny  (4),  Ruth  (4).  William  (4)  mar- 
ried Minnie  Johnson,  they  had  Madge  (5),  who  married  a  Mr.  Town- 
send,  and  Paul  (5).  This  family  has  all  left  the  county  and  married 
in  other  localities.  William  (2).  married  third  Mary  Mathews  and 
had  children  Joshua  Jones  (3),  Harvey  Green  (3),  Zachery  Cain  (3), 
Sarah  Ann  (3).  Joshua  J.  (3)  married  Martha  J.  Trig  and  had  Wil- 
liam Logan  (4),  Mary  Malinda  (4),  Elanora  (4),  E.  M.  (4),  Eliza  (4). 
William  L.  (4)  married  Sarah  Thomas  and  had  Lelia  (5),  William 
(5).  Lelia  (5)  married  M.  Wise;  Mary  M.  (4)  married  G.  F.  Stout; 
Elenora  (4)  married  A.  P.  Wright  and  has  Ray  (5),  Ralph  (5)  and 
William  (5).  Edward  M.  (4)  married  Rena  Smothers;  Eilza  (4) 
married  Charles  Morris;  Sarah  Ann  (3)  married  James  Cotton  and 
had  Mary  (4),  Dora  (4),  Cynthia  (4),  Arista  (4),  Flora  (4),  Ezra  (4), 
Rosco  (4),  Charles  (4).  Mary  (4)  married  David  Lawrence;  Dora 
(4)  married  Sanders  Parsons;  Cynthia  (4)  married  George  Evitts; 
Arista  (4)  married  Charles  Martin;  Flora  (4)  married  William  Roe; 
the  others  are  married  but  no  more  definite  knowledge  of  the  fam- 
ily. One  daughter  of  William  Simpson  (1)  married  a  minister  by 
the  name  of  John  Calvert.  The  following  is  from  Uncle  John  Jobe 
of  Tunnell  Hill;  Abraham  Jobe  was  a  native  of  Tennessee  and  married 
one  of  William  Simpson's  (1)  daughters  before  1800.  The  following 
children  were  born  to  them  Melissa  (3),  Mary  (3),  Cynthia  (3),  Hiram 
(3),  William  (3),  Samuel  (3),  Jefferson  (3),  born  1810.  Jefferson's 
mother  died  when  he  was  three  years  old  and  his  grandparents, 
Simpsons,  raised  him  in  Johnson  county.  Abraham  Jobe  took  the 
other  children  and  moved  to  Iowa.  He  married  a  second  time  (Mary 
Ann,  (Jobe)  Scott  daughter  to  Johnson  Jobe)  says  a  sister  to  Joel 
Johnson,  and  one  child  was  born  to  them,  Johnson  known  as  Johnce. 
Later  all  the  sons  and  Cynthia  came  to  this  county.  Hiram  (3),  tra- 
dition says,  married  a  Miss  Jones,  sister  to  William  Jones  who  lived 
on  the  east  side  of  the  county;  William  Jobe  (3)  married  Elizabeth 
Gray  sister  to  Basil  (1)  and  returned  to  Iowa;  Samuel  Jobe  (3)  mar- 
ried Susanna  Jones,  daughter  of  James  the  first,  and  had  children 
Mary  (4),  who  married  Mr.  Elkins;  Jane  (4)  married  Dr.  H.  Y.  Man- 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY  439 


gum;  William  (4)  married  Name  Roberts,  who  resides  in  Los  An- 
geles, Calif.;  Samuel  Jobe  (4)  married  Martha  (see  Carter);  Melissa 
Jobe  (3)  married  Thomas  (see  Simpson).  Cynthia  Jobe  (3)  mar- 
ried Washington  (see  Chapman);  Jefferson  Jobe  (3)  raised  in  this 
county,  entered  forty  acres  of  land  on  the  top  of  Moccasin  Gap 
and  married  Mary  Thomas,  sister  to  Washington  and  Frank.  They 
had  John  (5),  A.  P.  (5),  D.  W.  (5),  W.  H.  (5),  L.  W.  (5),  Philip  (5), 
Issy  (5),  Juliet  (5).  A.  P.  (Preen)  married  Sarah  Barnwell  and  they 
have  four  children  and  live  in  Missouri;  Juliet  (5)  married  John 
Reid  and  had  one  child  Rilda  (6);  D.  W.  (5)  (Wess)  married  Rose 
Harper  and  they  had  three  children;  William  Jobe  (5)  married  Mary 
Taylor,  they  had  Estelle  (6)  and  Nellie  (6) ;  Philip  (5)  married  Elvira 
Boss  and  they  have  Oliver  (6)  of  Goreville,  111.,  Louis  (6)  who  was  a 
World  War  soldier  and  two  daughters;  Lewis  (5)  married  Miss  Cole- 
man and  lives  in  Cairo;  Issy  (5)  married  Elsworth  Hobbs  and  has 
two  children.  She  married  second  Sherman  Emery  and  is  postmis- 
tress at  Parker  City;  John  (5)  married  Armina  Lollis,  children 
Cynthia  (6),  Mary  (6),  Marian  (6),  William  (6),  and  Harry  (6); 
William  Jobe  (6)  married  Winnie  Jobe;  Harry  Jobe  (6)  married 
Arista  Jobe;  Winnie  and  Artists  were  granddaughters  of  Johnce 
Jobe;  Cynthia  (6)  married  Elwood  Bouie  and  had  two  children; 
Mary  (6)  married  Alfred  Humphreys;  Marion  O.  (6)  married,  no 
children. 

F.  M.  Simpson  was  a  native  of  this  county  and  belonged  to  the 
family  of  William,  the  first  settler.  His  family  can  be  traced 
in  the  Simpson  genealogy.  He  was  left  an  orphan  at  the  age 
of  eight,  residing  with  a  married  sister,  Mrs.  Amanda  Jones.  He  be- 
gan life  on  his  own  responsibility  at  eighteen  by  driving  an  ox  team 
at  $6  per  month.  Later  he  was  employed  on  a  farm  and  then  as 
clerk  in  a  general  store  at  Reynoldsburg.  In  1861,  he  moved  to 
Vienna  and  with  a  capital  of  $400  entered  the  mercantile  business 
with  W.  W.  Peterson.  He  later  engaged  in  the  drug  business  during 
which  time  he  served  as  Post  Master  for  fourteen  years  being  ap- 
pointed under  Grant.  He  was  a  progressive  and  influential  citizen, 
a  Republican,  a  Mason,  a  Knights  Templar  and  a  member  of  the  M. 
E.  Church.  He  married  first  (1861)  Julia  Jennett,  daughter  of  Nathan 
and  Mary  (McCorcle)  Jennett,  who  died  in  1869.  In  1871  he  married 
Mrs.  Margaret  (Beal)  Copeland,  who  is  still  a  resident  of  Vienna.  She 
is  an  untiring  worker  in  the  M.  E.  Church,  a  progressive  and  useful 
citizen  and  very  active  for  one  of  her  age. 

W.  C.  was  a  son  of  F.  M.  and  Julia  Simpson,  born  and  raised  in 
Vienna.  His  primary  education  was  gained  in  the  public  schools  and 
he  later  attended  the  School  of  Pharmacy  of  the  University  of  Illi- 
nois.    He  bought  his  father's  drug  business,  which  he  continued  here 


440         A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


for  several  years.  He  also  served  as  president  of  the  State  Board  of 
Pharmacy,  and  was  one  of  our  most  active  citizens.  After  the  death 
of  his  wife  (Cora  Jackson  Simpson)  he  removed  to  Evanston,  111., 
and  again  engaged  in  the  drug  business.  He  married  a  second  time, 
Mrs.  Elizabeth  Nichols  of  Naperville,  111.  He  died  1912  in  the  prime 
of  life.     For  family  (see  Simpson). 

F.  M.,  Jr.,  son  of  F.  M.  and  Margaret  Beal  Simpson,  is  a  graduate 
of  the  Vienna  High  School  and  the  Agricultural  department  of  the 
University  of  Illinois.  He  was  employed  in  the  Bureau  of  Markets 
"in  Washington,  D.  C,  for  some  time  and  is  now  general  manager  of 
the  Live  Stock  Marketing  Association  and  resides  in  Kansas  City, 
Mo.     (See  Simpson.) 

SLACK 

Wililam  was  the  name  of  the  founder  of  the  Slack  family  in  this 
county,  coming  here  about  1815  from  Kentucky  where  he  was  born 
in  1795.  His  children  say  soon  after  the  war  of  1812,  in  which  he 
was  a  soldier.  The  county  records  show  he  lived  here  in  1824,  and  he 
was  without  doubt  a  pioneer,  settling  in  Bloomfield  township  and 
opening  a  farm.  He  married  Mary  Finney,  whose  parents  were  John 
and  Sarah  (Reynolds)  Finney,  and  also  first  settlers  of  this  county, 
who  came  directly  from  Virginia.  Mr.  Slack  was  evidently  a  man  of 
education  and  prominence,  as  his  name  appears  as  a  juror  also  as 
settling  estates.  Their  children  were  John  (2),  Celinda  (2),  Mariah 
(2),  Sarah  (2),  Gillson  (2),  William  (2),  James  (2),  Mary  (2), 
Louisa  (2),  Melissa  (2),  Emmily  (2),  Norman  J.  (2)  and  Margaret 
(2).  John  (2)  followed  farming,  he  married  Sarah  Ann  Alexander 
and  their  children  were  Wilford  (3),  Sarah  A.  (3),  James  M.  (3),  Mary 
E.  (3),  Amanda  (3),  John  W.  (3),  Isaac  W.  (3),  T.  F.  (3)  Norman 
G.  (3).  Wilford  (3)  who  moved  to  Massac  County,  married  Miss  Wy- 
more,  children  Dora  N.  Nanie,  James,  John;  Sarah  A.  (3)  married  Wil- 
liam Ring  and  moved  to  Acton,  Texas;  James  M.  (3),  married  Mary 
E.  Hoyl  and  had  Oliver  O.  (4),  Ada  (4)  and  were  residents  of  Massac 
County;  Mary  E.  (3)  married  Thomas  E.  Keith  and  had  James  (4), 
Ida  (4),  John  (4),  and  Nora  (4).  This  family  moved  west,  living  in 
Salina,  Kansas,  also  several  years  in  Salt  Lake  City,  where  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Keith  celebrated  their  fiftieth  wedding  anniversary.  They  later- 
moved  to  California  and  Mr.  Keith  died,  1924.  Amanda  (3)  taught  in 
this  county  several  years  and  married  Mr.  Vanderlight  of  Pontotoc, 
Texas;  John  W.  (3)  married  Burilla  Jones  (see  Simpson).  They 
have  resided  for  many  years  in  King  Fisher,  Oklahoma;  Isaac  W.  (3) 
married  Ellis  Waters  of  this  county  and  they  had  John  (4),  who  mar 
ried  a  Miss  Cooper.  May  (4)  and  others  names  not  known).  Mr 
Slack  with  his  children  removed  to  Oklahoma.  T.  F.  (3)  was  a 
teacher  and  left  this   state  when   a  young  man;    Norman  G.    (3)    re- 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY         441 

moved  to  Texas.  Celinda  (2)  married  J.  M.  Benson  in  1845.  They 
were  a  charitable  and  hospitable  couple  and  all  good  people  found  a 
welcome  in  their  home.  They  lei t  their  impress  on  the  young  men 
and  women  who  came  under  their  influence  and  are  the  citizens  of 
today.  Their  family  is  given  under  J.  M.  Benson.  Mariah  (2)  mar- 
ried first  Alfred  Oliver  (Tobe)  a  son  of  Judge  John;  second  Dr.  W. 
A.  Looney;  Sarah  (3)  married  Ignatius  Benson,  settled  on  an  ad- 
joining farm  to  Monroe,  his  brother,  and  their  children  were  Ann 
(3),  who  married  Calvin  Miller  and  Frank  (3).  Ann  and  Calvin  had 
Lily  (4)  who  married  Hal  Brooks,  Bessie  (4)  married  Mr.  Pearce, 
Mary  (4)  married  Gordon  Gilbert,  Charles  (4)  resides  in  this  county; 
the  other  children  are  residents  of  Marion,  111.,  and  Union  County; 
Frank  (3)  married  Emma  Allen  and  removed  to  Arkansas.  Gilson 
(2)  served  in  the  Civil  War,  was  a  carpenter  and  builder  and  re- 
moved to  the  West  coast  many  years  ago.  His  widow  lived  several 
years  in  a  home  near  Seattle,  Wash.,  where  she  died  in  1924.  (For 
family  see  Smith).  James  (2)  was  a  farmer  of  this  county  married 
first  Amanda  M.,  daughter  of  Nathan  and  Mary  Jennett,  their  chil- 
dren were  Florence  (3),  who  married  first  Daniel  Gage  and  had  Guy 
(4)  who  lives  in  Mich.,  married  second  Mr.  Strawbridge  and  has 
several  children,  resides  in  Mich.;  Mary  A.  (3)  married  Mr.  Christ- 
ianson  and  lived  in  Northern  111.;  James  (3)  married  Jennie  Henley 
and  is  a  merchant  of  Kansas  City,  Mo.,  they  have  Mary  (4);  Ollie 
(3),  Ola  (3),  are  married  and  live  in  the  West.  James  (2)  married 
second  Mrs.  Mary  (Hogg)  Harvick  who  resides  with  Guy  Gage  in 
Mich.  Mary  (2)  married  first  Mr.  Grissom  and  had  Green  (3);  mar- 
ried second  Mr.  Medley  and  had  Kate  (3).  They  left  this  county 
many  years  ago.  Louisa  (2)  married  Fredrick  Agustus  Rebman, 
children  Flora  (3),  Milford  (3),  Emma  (3),  Louisa  (3),  Thomas  (3), 
William  (3)  is  a  veteran  of  the  Spanish  War.  Flora  (3)  married 
Thos.  Carlton,  children  Ruth  (4)  married  Samuel,  son  of  H.  B. 
Wiley,  Ruby  (4)  married  Mr.  Barger,  Julia  (4);  Milford  (3)  married 
Kittie  (see  Chapman);  Emma  (3),  Louisa  (3)  married  F.  R.  (see 
Woelfle),  Thomas  (3)  was  a  teacher  of  the  county  several  years  but 
died  in  young  manhood.  Melissa  (2)  married  William  Taylor  and 
had  Lulu  (3),  who  married  Eugene  Leonard  and  resides  at  Anna. 
Norman  J.  (2)  married  Maggie  Sexton,  one  child  Ona  (3)  who  mar- 
ried Dr.  Miller  of  Metropolis,  111.,  where  she  resides;  Margaret  (2) 
married  George  L.  (see  Elkins).  Emma  (3),  daughter  of  F.  A.  and 
Louisa  Rebman,  has  not  married  but  has  devoted  her  time  and  tal- 
ents to  education.  She  was  a  teacher  for  several  years  in  this  coun- 
ty and  the  West,  served  as  County  Superintendent  of  Schools  and 
has   retired   to   a  comfortable   home   in   one   of   the   most   picturesque 


442         A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


spots  in  the  county.  She  is  a  Republican  and  a  member  of  the 
Methodist  church. 

SMITH 
Millington  Smith  (1),  was  born  in  North  Carolina  1773.  He  en- 
tered land  in  this  county  in  1817  which  is  now  owned  by  L.  S.  Beggs 
in  the  western  part  of  the  county.  His  wife's  maiden  name  was 
Barton  and  most  of  their  family  must  have  been  born  in  Tennessee 
from  which  state  they  emigrated  to  this  county.  Their  children 
were  Barnabas  S.  (2)  born  1795,  Isaac  (2),  Willis  (2),  Thomas  (2), 
James  (2),  Andrew  (2),  William  Barton  (2)  and  three  daughters; 
one  married  William  Graves;  another  married  Mr.  Mathis  and  an- 
other married  William  Simpson  the  pioneer.  Barnabas  S.  (2)  came 
here  when  a  youth  with  his  parents.  He  was  mustering  officer  in  the 
early  history  of  the  county,  a  teacher  and  useful  man  of  his  time, 
he  served  the  county  as  clerk  three  successive  terms.  He  had  a  genial 
and  obliging  disposition  and  was  well  liked  by  all  who  knew  him. 
He  was  eighty-three  years  old  when  he  died  and  never  wore  glasses, 
and  could  see  to  read  and  write  perfectly  until  his  death.  He  mar- 
ried seven  times  and  lived  with  each  wife  until  her  death  except  the 
last  one  who  outlived  him.  Three  of  his  wives  bore  children.  He 
married  first  Malinda  Borin  and  their  children  were  Hosea  (3), 
Avaline  (3),  born  1829,  Jane  (3),  born  1831,  Mary  Eliza  (3)  born 
1840;  Barnabus  (2)  married  sixth  Miss  Caldwell,  one  son  B.  S.  (3), 
born  1870;  Barnabus  (2)  married  seventh  Mary  Thorp  and  had  one 
daughter  Lily  (3)  born  1872.  Hosea  (3),  married  Emaline  Bunch  and 
had  H.  B.  (4),  who  resides  in  Carbondale;  Avaline  (3),  married 
James  F.  Oliver  and  had  Louis  Cass  (4)  born  1850,  Izora  (4),  born 
1854,  Julia   (4),  born  1856,  Celia  Ann   (4)   born  1858,  May   (4),  Alfred 

(4)  born  1864,  Etta  (4)  and  Lenna  (4).  L.  C.  (4)  married  Callie 
Penny  and  they  have  Bertha  (5),  who  married  H.  Holt  and  they 
have  Oliver  (6),  Clara  Elizabeth  (6)  and  live  in  Oklahoma  City, 
Okla.  Izora  (4)  married  A.  J.  Gray  1875  and  their  children  are  Kate 
(5),  Anna  (5),  Daisy  (5),  George  (5),  Nellie  (5),  John  (5),  Middleton 
(5).  Anna  (5)  married  J.  B.  Hankins  1902  and  has  Izora  May  (6), 
Dorothy  Ann  (6);  George  (5),  married  Jennette  Pain  and  they  had 
Mary  Jennette  (6);  Nellie  (5)  married  F.  M.  Huffman  1918;  John  (5) 
married  Cornelia  Smith  (5)  1920,  Mid  (5)  married  Flossie  Price  1920; 
Ann  (4)  married  James  (see  Chapman);  May  (4)  married  M.  S. 
Smith  of  Olmstead,  111.,  she  has  Mary,  who  married  Mr.  Van- 
diver;  Etta  (4)  married  George  B.  1889;  (see  Gillespie;  Lena 
(1)     married    Ford     Turner    of    Martinsville,    Tenn.,    and    has    Glen 

(5)  and  Margarel  (5)  who  married  a  Mr.  Davis.  This  family  now 
reside  in  Memphis,  Tenn.  Jane  (3),  married  John  Jones  (a  brother 
lo   Turner);    Mary    Eliza    (3)    married   Gilson    Slack,    1S54,   and   had 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY         443 


Henry  F.  (4),  William  B.  (4)  and  Oscar  (4);  Henry  F.  (4)  married 
Julia  Hudson  and  resides  in  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  Oscar  lives  in  the  West; 
Lily  (3),  married  Henry  Ross,  has  three  children,  lives  in  Arkansas. 
Barton  (2),  married  Amy  Elkins  and  they  had  John  E.  (3),  Milling 
ton  S.  (3),  James  N.  (3),  Barney  S.  (3),  Thomas  (3),  Mary  Ann  (3), 
Caroline  (3).  John  E.  (3),  married  Emily  Houston  and  they  had 
Champ  (4),  who  went  to  Texas  when  a  young  man,  Eliza  (4),  Barney 
(4),  Cina  (4),  Alice  (4);  Eliza  (4)  married  Watson  Stewart  and  had 
Ed.  (5),  she  married  second  Douglas  Stone  and  had  Anna  (5),  who 
married  a  Mr.  Jolly  and  Celia  (5)  who  married  Fred  Ballard;  Bar- 
ney (4)  married  a  Miss  Musgrove;  Cina  (4)  married  Mr.  Vancil; 
Alice  (4)  married  Mr.  Boles  and  had  Ferd  (5),  Ray  (5),  Homer  (5). 
Millington  S.  (3)  married  Mary  Davis  and  had  William  Y.  (4),  Viola 
(4),  Grant  (4),  Frank  S.  (4);  Millington  S.  (3)  married  second  Jane 
Ring  and  they  had  Charles  (4),  Walter  (4),  Paul  (4),  Pearl  (4). 
William  Y.  (4)  is  a  native  of  this  county  and  has  been  connected 
with  educational  work  as  a  teacher  and  superintendent  of  schools 
most  all  of  his  life,  except  one  term  he  served  the  county  as  judge. 
He  has  also  served  on  the  State  Board  of  Education.  He  has  been 
a  resident  of  Vienna  for  many  years  where  he  has  been  active  in 
the  general  welfare  of  the  community.  He  married  Sue  M.  Bozman 
of  Pope  county,  1883,  and  they  have  Benjamin  (5),  who  is  a  civil 
engineer,  he  married  Uphemia  Ferrell  and  resides  in  Detroit,  Mich.; 
Harry  (5)  is  a  business  man  of  Memphis,  Tenn.;  Cornelia  (5)  mar- 
ried John  Gray;  Arline  (5)  is  a  graduate  of  Vienna  High  School, 
Carbondale  Normal  and  a  successful  teacher;  Viola  (4),  married 
James  Brown  and  their  children  are  Myrtle  (5),  Mabel  (5)  and  James 
(5),  none  of  whom  live  in  this  county;  Frank  S.  (4),  married  Arrah 
Shadrick,  they  had  Mary  (5)  and  Gladys  (5).  He  was  a  graduate  Phy- 
sician practicing  in  Cypress  and  vicinity  several  years,  but  now  lives 
in  Logan,  111.  James  M.  3,  married  Sarah  Gore,  children  Mary  Jane 
(4),  Jefferson  (4),  Sherman  (4),  Addison  (4)  and  Hosea  (4).  Mary 
Jane  (4)  married  Samuel  Brown  and  has  Rollie  (5),  Roscoe  (6),  Hal 
(5),  Clyde  D.  (5),  Hazel  V.  (5);  Rollie  (5)  married  Blanch  Poor; 
Clyde  (5)  married  Avis  Howell  and  they  have  Delbert  (6),  Dewitt 
(6),  Pansy  (6),  Maxine  (6),  Willma  Elizabeth  (6);  Hazel  V.  (5) 
married  Drury  Edmons,  1920,  and  has  Geneva  (6);  Sherman  (4) 
married  Sarah  Adams,  they  have  Adah  (5),  Etta  (5),  William  (5). 
Adah  (5)  married  O.  Casey  and  has  Guy  (6),  Robert  (6);  Etta  (5) 
married  Rollo  Jeffries;  Jefferson  (4)  married  Mary  E.  Elkins.  They 
moved  to  Missouri.  Addison  (4)  married  Bertha  Poor  and  has  Jewel 
(5),  Ruby  (5),  Fay  (5),  Addison  (5).  Hosea  (4)  married  Fay. 
They  moved  from  the  county.  Barney  S.  (3)  married  Sarah  Cox, 
their    children   were    Edward    (4),    Nora    (4),     They   moved    to    Mur- 


444         A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


physboro,  111.  Mary  Ann  (3)  married  James  M.  (see  Finny.)  Caro- 
line (3)  married  John  Gore,  children.  James  (4)  married  Miss  Mc- 
Dowell, they  had  one  child  and  Sarah  (4)  who  married  Daniel  (see 
Simpson.) 

SMITH 
Milton  A.  Smith  was  born  in  Pulaski  County  in  1847.  He  was  the 
son  of  George  and  Lucretia  (Hammond)  Smith.  His  parents  were, 
as  most  all  other  settlers  of  southern  Illinois,  from  the  South  coming 
direct  from  Georgia.  His  early  boyhood  was  spent  in  Massac  Coun- 
ty. At  the  age  of  fifteen  he  enlisted  in  Company  K  29th  Illinois  In- 
fantry, and  was  afterward  assigned  to  Company  I.  Later  this  com- 
pany was  consolidated  with  the  9th  mounted  infantry.  This  regiment, 
lost  more  men,  killed  in  battle,  than  any  other  Illinois  regiment.  His 
first  battle  was  Salem,  Mississippi.  He  was  in  ninety-six  of  the  one 
hundred  and  ten  battles  and  skirmishes  of  the  9th  regiment,  on  Sher- 
man's march  to  the  sea  and  the  Campaign  of  the  Carolinas.  He  took 
part  in  the  grand  review  at  Washington,  D.  C.  Entering  the  army 
so  young  he  had  acquired  very  little  education,  at  the  time  of  his  en- 
listment he  was  offered  a  non-commissioned  office  in  his  company, 
and  was  so  chagrined  because  he  could  not  accept  it  for  lack  of  educa- 
tion, he  determined  then,  if  he  reached  home  alive  he  would  secure  an 
education.  At  the  close  of  the  war  he  began  immediately  to  attend 
school  and  studied  law  for  a  while,  but  in  1877  he  entered  the  news- 
paper business  in  the  city  of  Vienna  and  successfully  edited  the 
"Johnson  County  Journal"  for  a  number  of  years.  He  later  bought 
the  "State  Sentinel",  a  prohibition  paper  published  at  Decatur,  111., 
and  while  for  many  years  he  affiliated  with  the  Republican  party,  he 
was  always  a  strong  advocate  for  prohibition  and  woman  suffrage. 
He  finally  took  up  the  cause  of  prohibition  and  there  can  be  no  doubt 
but  that  his  efforts  helped  to  bring  about  the  18th  amendment.  He 
was  firm  in  his  convictions  that  every  one  should  lead  a  clean  and 
virtuous  life,  and  though  quiet,  was  never  afraid  to  express  his  views. 
Owing  to  ill  health  he  retired  from  journalistic  work  and  moved  to  a 
farm  in  Florida,  where  he  spent  the  remainder  of  his  life.  He  mar- 
ried Emma  R.  daughter  of  Abraham  Wright,  a  Methodist  minister. 
Their  children  were  George  R.,  Bess  L,  May,  Effie,  Nellie,  Earl  and 
Hazel.  May  died  1820.  The  widow  and  other  children  reside  in 
Florida.  Mr.  Smith  always  took  an  active  part  in  the  church  and  all 
work  that  had  for  its  object  the  betterment  of  the  community.  He 
died  in  Jacksonville,  Fla.,  March  1918. 

SPANN 
Honorable  W.  A.  Spann,  although  not  a  native  of  this  county  was 
a  resident  about  fifty  years.     He  practiced  law  here,  represented  this 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY  445 


district  in  the  State  Legislature  as  a  Democrat,  1880-82,  and  was 
elected  county  judge  in  1906.  Mr.  Spann  was  born  in  Alabama,  1840, 
coming  to  Union  County  with  his  father  in  1853.  He  taught  school 
in  this  county  as  early  as  1861,  and  began  the  practice  of  law  in 
Vienna  in  1877.  He  held  a  place  second  to  none  as  a  criminal  lawyer, 
and  was  known  throughout  Southern  Illinois,  as  a  famous  advocate. 
He  was  a  man  of  unusual  ability  and  intellect.  His  family  came  orig 
inally  from  North  Carolina.  Williams  was  the  father  and  Silas  the 
grandfather.  They  settled  near  Jonesboro,  111.  W.  A.  Spann  married 
Narcissa  (see  Simpson).  He  was  twice  married  after  her  death, 
lirst  to  Mrs.  Ettie  M.  Blanchfill,  second  to  Mrs.  Mary  Goodall  of  Mar- 
ion. Mr.  Spann  died  in  1922.  H.  A.  Spann,  son  of  W.  A.,  is  a  na- 
tive of  this  county  and  is  known  as  an  attorney  of  ability.  He  is  a 
graduate  of  Vienna  High  School  and  the  Bloomington  Law  School. 
He  began  his  practice  with  his  father  in  1909,  and  has  sreved  the 
county  as  State's  Attorney.     For  family  (see  Simpson). 

SPENCE 
Honorable  W.  A.  Spence  was  born  and  reared  in  Massac  County, 
but  has  been  a  teacher  and  pastor  in  this  county  so  frequently  that  we 
feel  he  is  closely  connected  with  our  history.  He  was  left  an  orphan 
at  an  early  age  but  has  made  a  place  for  himself  among  the  educa- 
tors and  men  of  affairs  in  this  state.  He  followed  teaching  for  sev- 
eral years,  entering  the  ministry  of  the  Baptist  Church  when  quite 
young.  He  has  served  as  State  Senator  from  this  district  and  is  a 
resident  of  Metropolis.  He  married  Ada  Fogg  and  they  have  one 
daughter,  Mignon,  who  is  quite  talented  in  music  and  one  son.  They 
are  living  at  present  in  Springfield,  111.,  where  Mr.  Spence  is  on  the 
staff  of  the  State  Superintendent  of  Public  Instruction  and  also  has 
charge  of  a  church  of  that  city. 

STANLEY 
William  Stanley,  a  planter  of  North  Carolina  removed  from  his 
native  state  to  Kentucky.  He  had  three  sons,  one  of  whom  was 
Mark,  born  1783.  Mark  (2),  married  Polly,  daughter  of  James  Under- 
wood. They  settled  in  Tennessee,  later  removing  to  Kentucky,  fin- 
ally coming  to  Williamson  County,  111.,  in  1837,  with  their  family  in-  an 
ox  wagon.  It  required  two  weeks  to  make  the  trip  from  Hopkinsville, 
Ky.  There  were  six  sons  and  four  daughters  in  this  family,  most  of 
whom  settled  in  Williamson  County.  One  son,  Charles  (3),  was  kill- 
ed at  the  Siege  of  Vicksburg.  Overton  (3)  married  Ellen,  daughter  of 
A.  H.  and  Dicy  (Allen)  Barnard.  In  1853  Mr.  Stanley  moved  to  the 
farm  now  owned  by  his  son  A.  D.  in  Goreville  Township.  He  began 
farming  with  fifty  acres,  for  which  he  paid  five  dollars  per  acre,  and 
added  to  this  until  he  had  a  large  and  well  equipped  farm,  with  good 


446         A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


dwelling  and  buildings.  This  home  cannot  be  excelled  in  this  coun- 
ty in  its  beautiful  landscape  views.  The  children  were,  Hiram  (4), 
married  Margaret  Coleman  and  lived  in  Williamson  County;  Ida  (4), 
married  O.  P.  Brown  (see  West);  A.  D.  (4)  married  Adella  C.  daughter 
of  Dr.  P.  S.  McKenzie,  a  native  of  Edinburg,  Scotland.  Their  children 
are  Marie  (5),  married  O.  L.  Moulton,  and  has  Ernest  Staniey  (6;; 
Eva  May  (5),  married  Royal  Nipper  and  died  soon  afterward;  Agnes 
(5),  married  George  Howell,  and  resides  in  Herrin,  111.;  Lynn  Over- 
ton (5),  married  Addie  Lee  Franks,  is  also  a  resident  of  Herrin; 
Ward  (5)  and  Ned  (5),  at  home. 

SUIT 

William  J.  Suit  was  a  native  of  Tennessee  and  was  born  in  1829. 
His  father  was  Bartlett,  and  his  grandfather  was  William.  They 
both  were  natives  of  North  Carolina  and  emmigrated  to  Tennessee 
Bartlett  married  Elsie,  daughter  of  Jordan  and  Ona  Nannie,  who  was 
also  a  native  of  Tennessee.  The  parents  removed  to  Graves  County 
Kentucky,  when  William  J.  was  four  years  old,  where  he  grew  into 
manhood,  and  married  Tabitha  Beach,  who  was  born  near  Nashville, 
Tenn.  Her  father  was  Patrick  and  her  mother  was  Nancy  Huston, 
both  natives  of  Virginia.  Mr.  Suit  engaged  in  the  mercantile  business 
for  a  time  in  Kentucky,  moved  to  Missouri,  and  finally  to  Johnson 
County  in  1862,  making  his  last  home  at  Buncombe,  where  he  lived 
many  years,  engaged  in  farming  and  also  kept  a  country  store.  He 
was  the  first  resident  of  this  hamlet  and  lived  to  be  a  very  old  man, 
and  to  see  quite  a  village  instead  of  his  farm,  his  store  and  the  black- 
smith shop.  He  was  made  a  Mason  in  1853,  and  voted  for  Freemont. 
1856,  though  not  in  this  state,  but  later  became  a  prohibitionist.  They 
had  one  daughter,  Narcissa,  who  married,  first  Hosea  Scott,  he  was 
killed  by  a  falling  tree.  She  married  second  Samuel  Elkins.  James 
Suit  the  son,  is  a  prominent  business  man  of  Buncombe,  resides  in 
the  old  home,  operates  a  general  store,  and  is  a  director  in  the  Bun- 
combe Bank,  besides  his  farming  and  live  stock  interests.  He  is  a 
Democrat  and  a  bachelor. 

SUTTON 

The  family  of  E.  W.  Sutton  came  here  from  Tennessee.  An  an- 
cestor of  his  is  said  to  have  served  in  the  Revolutionary  War  from 
North  Carolina.  His  Grandfather  was  Hugh  Sutton  who  located  in 
Johnson  County  about  the  beginning  of  the  Civil  War.  He  married 
Mary  Shelly  and  they  had  four  sons,  William  M.  (2),  James  B.  (2), 
Jacob  (2),  George  (2).  William  M.  (2)  married  Rhoda,  daughter  of 
Elisha  Webb,  they  had  E.  W.  (3),  John  (3)  who  married  Dora  Sim- 
mons, Nettie  (3)  married  Claude  Cavitt,  Ada  (3)  married  Ernest 
Hawkins,  E.  W.  Sutton  (3)  was  reared  in  Tunnell  Hill  Township  and 
attended  the  public  schools  there.     He  received  his  higher  education 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY  447 

at  the  Southern  Illinois  Normal,  taught  school  for  twenty-five  years 
in  this  county,  and  made  a  splendid  record  as  County  Superintendent 
of  Schools  of  Johnson  County.  He  is  interested  in  farming;  is  a 
minister  of  the  Latter  day  Saints  Church  and  is  a  resident  of  Vienna 
where  he  is  engaged  in  the  insurance  business.  He  married  first 
Ava  Lennon,  she  died  leaving  one  daughter  who  married  J.  C.  White 
and  they  have  Afton  (5)  and  Frances  Lee  (5).  Mr.  Sutton  married 
Becond  Nora,  daughter  of  T.  H.  and  Flora  Taylor,  who  died  leaving 
no  issue.  He  later  married  Olie,  daughter  of  A.  H.  and  Jane  Bass 
and  they  have  Olive  (4)  and  Mary  (4). 

TAYLOR 
William  Taylor  was  a  first  settler  here  and  the  founder  of  a 
large  family.  The  exact  date  of  his  coming  is  not  known  but  likely 
before  the  state  was  admitted  into  the  Union.  He  settled  on  the 
ridge  northeast  of  what  is  now  Bloomfield  and  known  as  Taylor 
ridge,  later  he  moved  to  Old  Sulphur  Springs  on  the  lines  of  Wil- 
liamson and  Johnson  counties,  where  he  spent  the  rest  of  his  days. 
He  was  a  brother  to  Mary,  first  wife  of  Joseph  Kuykendall,  the 
pioneer,  and  Colonel  Richard  Taylor  a  prominent  and  wealthy  citizen 
of  Chicago,  111.  It  is  thought  this  family  came  originally  from  Vir- 
ginia, lived  a  while  in  Kentucky,  and  then  to  this  state.  William  the 
1st  married  Nellie  McMahan  and  they  had  Polly  (2),  James  (2),  John 
(2),  Giles  (2),  Hampton  (2),  Richard  (2),  William  H.  (2),  Mary  (2), 
Betsy  (2),  Catherine  (2),  Samuel  (2).  Polly  (2)  married  William 
Westbrooks  and  had  James  (3),  Jackson  (3),  Alice  (3;,  Samuel  (3) 
(married  Lucy  Taylor  (3),  Peter  (3),  Emeline  (3)  (married  Anson 
Taylor  (3),  and  Sarah  (3). 

James  (2)  married,  his  children  were  Nancy  (3),  Newton  (3),  Wil 
liam  (3),  Elias  (3).  John  (2)  married  Betsy  Ann  Howerton,  they  had 
William  (3)  who  died  while  serving  in  the  Civil  War;  Anson  (3)  (mar- 
ried Emeline  Westbrooks  (3);  Massandra  (3)  married  Campbell  Hall, 
Elizabeth  (3)  married  William  (see  Peterson);  Lucy  (3)  married 
Samuel  Westbrooks   (3);   Nancy  E.   (3)  married  a  Mr.  Russell;   Polly 

(3)  married  a  Mr.  Gregory.  Giles  (2)  married  Betsy  Kuykendall, 
daughter  of  Joseph  1st;  they  had  Hampton  (3),  James  M.  (3),  John 
O.  (3),  Benjamin  (3),  Jackson  (3),  Lydia  (3),  Sarah  (3),  Louisa  (3). 
James  M.    (3)   married  Martha  Mangum;    they  had  Giles    (4);    Henry 

(4)  married  Norah  Harper  and  they  have  Ivy  and  Vivy  (5),  Herb^n 
(5),  Herschel  (5),  Lynn  (5);  Giles  (4)  married  Lula  Cummins  and 
they  have  three  sets  of  twins;  James  M.  (3)  married  second  Georgia 
Barringer.  Louise  (3)  married  Marshall  Lawrence.  Hampton  (2) 
married  Betsy  Henderson  and  had  Samuel  (3),  Benjamin  (3),  Thomas 
(3),  James  (3),  William  (3),  Martha  (3),  Mary  (3)  who  married  Wil- 


448         A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


liam  (see  Simpson)  Cina  (3),  Isabel  (3);  Richard  (2)  married  Mary 
Seay  they  had  Sarah  C.  (3),  Martha  Ann  (3).  Sarah  C.  (3)  married 
John  Brown;  Martha  Ann  (3)  married  Jesse  Martin;  Richard  (2) 
married  second  Ann  Eubanks,  they  had  Thomas  (3)  who  married 
Margaret  Cook  and  had  three  children.  Mary  Ellen  (3)  married 
Thomas  Hooker,  they  have  Alonzo  (4)  who  married  Ola  Smith  and 
has  Valgean  (5);  Frank  W.  (3)  married  Lena  Woodward;  John  L. 
(3)  married  Sarah  Shadowen;  Melissa  J.  (3)  married  Jerome  Glasco 
of  Union  county;  Albert  (3)  married  Rachael  Fox;  Richard  (2)  mar- 
ried third  Martha  Robertson  and  had  Emma  (3)  who  married  John 
Lawrence.  William  H.  (2)  married  Louisa  Kuykendall,  daughter  of 
Joseph  1st;  they  had  Jasper  (3)  who  married  Mary  Jane  Wickham 
and  had  Lewis  F.  (4)  who  married  Cora  Harper;  Thomas  (4)  mar- 
ried Dell  Harper  and  has  Ralph  (5),  Marguerite  (5),  Lewis  (5). 
Glenda  (5),  Warren  (5),  John  Howard  (5);  James  (4)  married  Mar- 
tha O'Neal;  Joseph  (4)  married  Dimple  Bradley;  Roy  (4)  married 
Lora  Odum;  Oma  (4)  married  Inez  Hayden;  Stella  (4)  married  Clyde 
Jones;  Zora  (4)  married  Will  Hogg;  Lula  (4)  married  Simpson 
Whiteside.  Louisa  (3)  married  John  Hall;  Elizabeth  (3)  married 
Mr.  Elliot  and  had  William  (4)  and  Arthur  (4),  who  married  Ida 
Gray;  William  H.  (2)  married  second  Eunice  Caldwell,  sister  to  Cal- 
vin a  Baptist  minister  of  this  county,  they  had  Linnie  (3)  who  mar- 
ried Boyt  Shelton;  John  (3)  married  Mary  Weston,  they  have  Linnie 
T.  (4),  Almus  (4),  Minnie  (4),  Roy  (4),  Carros  (4)Emeline  T.  (4). 
Linnie  (4)  married  Relus  Evans  and  has  John  (5)  Mary  (5),  Robert 
(5);  Almus  (4)  married  Ethel  Cates  and  has  Ruby  (5);  Minnie  (4) 
married  Charles  Whitesides,  has  Emeline  (5);  Roy  (4)  married 
Emeline  Cook,  has  Caroline  (5) ;  Carros  (4)  married  Harry  Sullens 
who  was  killed  in  battle  at  St.  Mihiel,  France,  during  the  World  War; 
Vera  (4)  married  Frank  McCuan,  has  Helen  (5);  Emeline  (4)  at 
home;  B.  S.  Taylor  (3)  married  Hattie  Kincanon,  they  had  Lily  who 
died  leaving  one  son;  Jay  C.  (3)  married  Rhoda  Branscomb  and  had 
Esta  (4)  and  Clint  (4)  who  married  Lela  Verhines;  Samuel  H.  (3) 
married  Flora  Hale  they  had  Ray  (4);  Samuel  H.  (3)  married  sec 
ond  Daisy,  daughter  of  I.  N.  Davies,  they  had  Gladys  (4)  who  died 
1921;  R.  F.  (3)  married  Leanna  Harper  and  has  Lloyd  (4),  Lee  (4) 
Lawrence  (4),  Blanch  (4),  Beulah  (4),  Frank,  Jr.  (4);  T.  C.  Taylor 
is  a  son  of  W.  H.  and  Eunice  (Caldwell)  born  and  raised  in  this 
county.  He  was  a  business  man  of  Bloomfield  for  several  years  and 
somewhat  interested  in  politics.  He  removed  to  Vienna  a  few  years 
ago  and  engaged  in  the  coal  and  ice  business.  In  1902  he  was  elect- 
ed sheriff  of  the  county  and  is  making  an  efficient  officer.  He  is  a 
Mason,  a  Republican,  and  an  obliging  official  and  citizen.  Louisa  (3) 
married  John  Hall  a  minister.     No  knowledge  of  Mary  (2),  Betsy  (2). 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY         449 


Catherine  (2)  or  Samuel  (2).  The  wives  of  Henry  (4),  Lewis 
F.  (4),  Thomas  (4),  and  R.  F.  Taylor  (3)  were  daughters  of  John  and 
Sarah  (Cooper)  Harper.  They  had  one  other  daughter  Mary  (called 
Darley),  who  married  T.  J.  Clayton  and  has  Viva  who  married  Wil- 
liam Corbit,  Hazel  May  and  Pleasant  T.  Hazel  May  married  Henry 
Marcus. 

THACKER 
Joel  Sampson  Thacker,  son  of  Nathanial,  came  here  when  a  small 
boy  with  his  widowed  mother,  Lucretia,  from  Tennessee,  where  he 
was  born  in  Stewart  County,  about  1815.  Two  brothers  of  Joel  re 
moved  to  Arkansas  from  this  county.  In  1839  he  entered  what  is 
now  known  as  the  Shoemaker  Farm  just  east  of  Vienna,  on  the 
Simpson  road  where  he  first  settled,  but  later  entered  a  tract  a  few 
miles  farther  east  on  the  same  road  at  what  is  now  called  Pond, 
where  he  died  1857.  His  widow  continued  this  as  her  home  almost 
fifty  years,  dying  in  1906.  Joel  S.  1st  married  Sarah  Bain  about 
1839  and  their  children  were  Frances  Brooks  (2),  born  1841,  Samp- 
son P.  (2),  born  1844,  Martha  (2),  born  1846,  Charles  A.  (2),  born 
1848,  Green  N.  (2),  born  1850.  Frances  B.  Thacker  (2)  served  his 
country  from  1861  to  1865  with  the  famous  31st  Illinois  Infantry  as  a 
Lieutenant  and  Adjutant,  was  in  the  battles  of  Fort  Donelson,  Burnt 
Ridge,  Port  Gibson,  Champion  Hills,  the  Siege  of  Vicksburg  and 
Corinth,  and  was  on  Sherman's  march  to  the  sea.  He  participated  in 
the  Grand  Review  at  Washington,  D.  C.  His  business  was  farming. 
He  also  served  the  county  as  Treasurer  and  Circuit  clerk  for  nine 
years.  He  was  a  useful  and  dependable  citizen.  He  has  now  retired 
from  business  and  resides  with  his  children.  He  is  a  Republican,  a 
Mason,  a  member  of  the  M.  E.  Church  and  the  G.  A.  R.  Post.  He 
married  Nancy  C.  Petersson,  1866  and  their  children  are  Fannie  (3), 
who  married  Rev.  J.  W.  Dundas  of  the  Methodist  Church,  and  they 
have  Leona  (4);  Harry  (3)  died  in  1910;  Samuel  (3)  married  Fannie 
Stewart,  and  had  Jeannette  (4);  Samuel  with  Charles  (4),  resides 
on  a  farm  in  Bloomfield  township.  Kate  (3)  married  a  Mr.  Wanger 
of  Chicago,  1921  and  has  one  child;  Nola  (3)  also  resides  in  Chicago. 
S.  P.  (2)  was  born  and  resided  many  years  in  Bloomfield  township. 
He  was  a  good  farmer,  a  quiet  but  influential  citizen  and  served  the 
county  as  commissioner,  was  a  Republican  and  a  member  of  the  M. 
E.  Church.  He  married  Mary  E.  Smith  and  their  children  were  Her 
bert  (3),  born  1878  and  married  Lula  Abney,  1902,  and  their  children 
are  Jewel  E.  (4),  Edgar  A.  (4)  and  Dora  (4).  Mr.  Thacker  is  inter- 
ested in  farming  and  is  also  mail  clerk  on  the  Big  Four  railroad. 
Arthur  B.  (3)  married  Frankie  Sullens,  1914  and  has  Wendal  and 
Wallace  (4)  born  1914;  Buelah  (4),  born  1916;  Americus  (3)  served  in 


450         A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 

the  World  War  and  married  Louise  a  young  girl  of  France,  1919; 
they  have  Georges  (4)  and  reside  in  Chicago;  Esther  (3)  married 
Ernest  Stoltz;  Martha  (2)  married  James  Mathis  and  had  Rosa  (3), 
Pleasant  (3),  and  Garfield  (3);  Martha  (2)  married  second  a  Mr. 
Fort  and  had  Fannie  (3).  C.  A.  Thacker  (2)  married  Emiline  Lasley, 
and  had  John  (3),  Clara  (3),  Oscar  (3).  Clara  (3)  married  Orphus 
Thomas;  John  (3)  married  Hattie  Verhines,  and  second  Maud  Ver- 
hines.  G.  N.  (2)  married  Ellen  Brown  and  their  children  are  Dora 
(3),  Stella  (3),  Francis  (3),  Paul  (3),  Theodora  (3)  and  Mary  (3). 
The  families  of  C.  A.  (2)  and  G.  N.  (2)  left  this  county  several  years 
ago  and  reside  in  Oklahoma  City,  Okla. 

THOMAS 
Henry  Thomas  came  here  in  pioneer  days,  (1839),  and  settled 
in  that  section  of  the  county  which  is  now  Simpson  Township.  He 
was  a  native  of  Tenn.,  and  had  served  in  the  war  of  1812  in  Captain 
McCalf's  riflemen  and  engaged  in  the  battle  of  New  Orleans.  When 
the  Civil  War  came  on,  although  getting  on  in  years,  he  enlisted  in 
the  14th  Illinois  Cavalry,  but  was  soon  discharged  on  account  of  his 
age.  His  son,  Washington,  was  born  in  Tennessee  1822,  and  came 
here  with  his  parents  when  17  years  old,  and  early  learned  the  art  of 
farming.  He  married  Mary,  daughter  of  William  Simpson,  also  a 
pioneer.  He  entered  Government  land,  built  a  house  and  they  began 
life  together.  He  was  a  Republican  and  a  member  of  the  Latter 
Day  Saints  Church.  Seven  children  were  born  in  their  home,  namely; 
W.  H.  (3),  Joseph  B.  (3),  Cynthis  (3),  Melinda  (3),  Mary  (3)  and 
Robert  (3).  W.  H.  (3),  the  eldest  served  in  the  13th  Cavalry,  Co.  G, 
Civil  War.  Their  campaign  was  waged  mostly  in  Kentucky,  Ten- 
nessee and  Georgia.  He  afterward  followed  farming  in  Bloomfield 
Township  and  served  the  county  as  clerk.  He  married  Martha,  daugh- 
ter of  W.  R.  and  Sidney  (Waters)  Whiteside,  and  had  Charles  E. 
(4),  Willard  G.  (4),  Orpha  B.  (4),  Fred  (4),  Lewis  (4),  Lillian  M.  (4), 
Birdie  (4).  John  L.  (3)  another  son  of  Washington,  is  a  farmer  and 
fruit  grower  of  Simpson  and  proprietor,  with  his  son,  of  Sunny 
Crest  Fruit  Farm.  Cynthia  (3)  married  Robert  (see  Thompson); 
Mary  (3)  married  J.  H.  Morphis. 

THROGMORTON 
E.  F.  Throgmorton  is  a  descendant  of  Josiah  who  was  born  in 
North  Carolina  in  1811  of  English  parentage,  Josiah  also  being  the 
name  of  his  father.  He  married  first  Miss  McSwain  in  North  Caro- 
lina who  had  three  children  and  died  in  that  state.  He  married 
second  Martha  Pierce  and  to  them  were  born  John  (2),  who  was  a 
soldier  in    the  Civil   War  and   wounded   at   Shiloh,  William   Pinckney 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY  451 


(2),  James  (2),  Reuben  (2),  Josiah  (2),  Frank  (2),  Lewis  (2),  Martha 
(2)!  Robert  (2).  Josiah  1st  came  to  Illinois  bringing  his  wife  and 
lour  children  sometime  in  the  forties.  He  entered  land  and  settled 
on  what  is  known  now  as  the  Uncle  Tommy  Helm  Farm,  later  moving 
to  New  Burnside  where  he  opened  a  farm  and  resided  until  his 
death.     William  P.   (2)   lives  in  Williamson  County. 

Jane  (2)  married  J.  W.  Hayes  and  had  James  (3),  Luela  (3), 
Charles  (3),  John  (3),  Nell  (3).  Reuben  (2)  married  Louisa  Par- 
sons; Frank  (2)  married  Cordelia  Snyder  and  lives  in  Jackson 
county.  Lewis  (2)  married  Sarah  Lay;  they  had  Josiah  (3),  Lily  (3), 
Ella  (3),  Delia  (3),  Adolphus  (3)  and  Roy  (3);  they  live  in  Oklahoma. 
Martha  (2)  and  Robert  (2)  never  were  residents  of  this  county. 
Josiah  (2)  was  a  well  to  do  farmer,  a  man  of  wide  influence  which 
was  always  used  for  righteousness.  He  was  a  Republican  and  a 
Mason.  He  married  Elizabeth  Reeves  and  had  Martha  (3),  John  (3), 
Arthur  (3),  Frank  (3),  Almus  (3),  Walter  (3),  Nellie  (3),  Norris  (3), 
May  (3),  Addie  (3)  and  Robert  (3).  Arthur  (3)  married  May  Murrie 
(see  McFatridge);  Martha  and  Robert  live  at  home  with  their 
mother;  E.  F.  (3)  is  the  fourth  child  of  this  family  and  has  occu- 
pied a  position  in  the  county  several  years  that  brings  him  in  con- 
tact with  most  every  citizen  in  it  sooner  or  later.  He  is  a  most 
obliging  and  congenial  county  officer  as  well  as  citizen  and  no  fault 
can  be  found  with  his  work  as  clerk  of  the  county.  He  was  educat- 
ed in  the  public  schools  and  Southern  Illinois  Normal  He  is  a  Mason, 
a  Republican  and  he  and  wife  are  members  of  the  M.  E.  Church.  He 
married  Lee,  daughter  of  A.  H.  and  Jane  (Albright)  Bass,  of  Tunnell 
Hill  Township  and  they  have  Joe  (4)  who  is  a  student  of  the  High 
School  of  Vienna  where  they  reside. 

Josiah  Throgmorton  was  born  in  Union  County  1824  of  Virginia 
parentage.  He  came  to  Johnson  county  in  1858  and  engaged  in  the 
milling  business.  He  served  in  Company  K,  60th  Illinois  Infantry, 
and  was  with  Sherman  on  his  historic  march  to  the  sea.  He  retired 
from  the  milling  business  to  buy  grain.  In  1884  he  engaged  in  the 
lumber  business  with  P.  T.  Chapman  which  he  followed  till  his 
death  in  1894.  In  his  youth  he  worked  for  ten  dollars  per  month 
and  studied  at  night  for  his  education.  He  was  a  valued  citizen 
and  business  man,  was  vice-president  of  the  First  National  Bank 
from  its  organization,  and  was  said  to  be  a  man  without  an  enemy. 
He  was  a  Mason,  Republican,  and  a  Unitarian  in  belief.  He  married 
Abigail  Musgrove  and  left  one  daughter,  Fannie,  who  married  T.  H. 
Sheridan. 

VEACH 
John  Veach   (originally  spelled  Veatch)   was  the  ancestor  of  the 
Veaches    of    this    county.     One    branch    of    the    family    says    he    was 


452  A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 

Scotch  and  the  other  claims  he  was  English.  It  is  not  certain 
whether  he  was  born  in  England,  Scotland  or  America.  Family  tra- 
dition says  he  first  lived  in  Maryland,  moved  from  there  to  North 
Carolina,  then  to  Kentucky  and  finally  to  Illinois,  settling  in  Pope 
County.  John  1st  married  Nellie  Jones,  and  raised  two  sons  and 
three  daughters,  Ishmeal  (2),  was  born  in  North  Carolina,  1793,  and 
Green  B.  (2)  was  born  in  the  same  state.  There  is  no  knowledge  of 
the  daughters  nor  their  families.  The  family  of  Ishmeal  (2),  is 
lound  under  Chapman.  Green  B.  Veach  (2),  came  here  possibly 
with  his  parents,  who  resided  here  in  1820,  in  the  Eastern  section  of 
the  county.  He  was  a  soldier  in  the  Black  Hawk  war,  a  Mason  and 
was  said  to  be  very  faithful  to  this  fraternity,  and  just  as  faithful 
to  his  church,  which  was  the  Presbyterian,  and  this  would  be  in 
favor  of  the  Scotch  ancestry.  Green  B.  (2)  married  Martha  Riddle 
-and  their  children  were  B.  F.  (3),  Amanda  (3),  Clinton  (3),  and 
Pleasant  G.  (3).  B.  F.  (3)  married  Elizabeth  Mount  and  had  one 
son,  Thomas  F.  (4),  who  married  Harriet  Mathis.  They  had  Ferrell 
(5)  who  lives  in  Texas.  B.  F.  (3)  married  second  Parthena  McCuan 
and  their  children  were  James  G.  (4),  Leroy  C.  (4),  W.  Allen  (4), 
Martha  (4)  and  Rosa  (4).  James  C.  (4)  married  Nancy  Moore  and 
their  children  were  Earl  D.  (5),  Pearl  (5),  Clyde  A.  (5),  Effie  (5), 
James  Hubert  (,5),  Mabel  (5),  Robert  (5).  Earl  D.  (5)  married 
Margaret  Murrie  and  they  have  James  F.  (6);  Pearl  (5)  married 
Roy  Moore  and  has  Robert  (6),  and  Lucille  (6);  Clyde  A.  (5)  married 
Effie  Vaughn  and  has  Herschel  (6),  Virginia  (6),  Clyde  (6);  Effie  (5) 
married  R.  R.  Ridenhower;  James  H.  (5)  married  Ruth  Harris  and 
their  children  are  Julia  (6),  Dewey  (6),  Imo  (6).  He  died  (1924; 
Mabel  (5)  married  James  B.  Harris  and  has  Vera  (6);  Robert 
(5)  married  Marie  Harris  and  has  Roberta  (6)  and  Mary 
Lou  (6);  L.  C.  (4)  married  Mary  Wilson  and  their  children  are 
Eunice  (5)  who  married  Bert  Burris;  Fay  (5)  married  Roy  Zeck; 
Orla  (5)  married  Ivan  Morrison;  Dimple  (5)  married  Agustus  Hunt; 
Carl  (5)  married  James  Grissom;  Norma  (5)  married  Joseph  W. 
Looney;  Roy  (5)  and  Lula  (5).  Most  of  L.  C.  Veaches  family  have 
left  this  county.  W.  Allen  (4)  married  Laura  Mathis  and  the  chil- 
dren are  Clemont  (5),  who  married  Canty  Jones  and  resides  in  East 
St.  Louis;  Clifford  (5)  married  Agusta  Davis,  they  have  Dolly  May 
(6),  Allen  Davis  (6),  and  reside  on  a  farm  in  the  southeast  part  of 
the  county.  Clifford  is  among  our  best  farmers  and  business  men. 
Eva  (5)  married  Chester  Hunt  and  has  Rosanna  (6) ;  they  reside 
in  Indianapolis,  Ind.;  Loyd  (5)  married  Mildred  Hess  (see  Chapman); 
Lorna  May  (5),  at  home.  Martha  (4)  married  Franklin  McCorle  and 
has  Libbie  (5),  Jessie  (5),  Adolphus  (5),  Oscar  (5);  Rosa  (4)  mar- 
ried Samuel  Gillispie  and  their  children  are  Suda    (5),  who  married 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY  45a 


Jack  Hood  and  their  children  are  Francis    (6)    and  Robert   (6);    Oma 

(5)  married  Ray  Fraim  and  has  Rosamond  (6);  Annabelle  (5)  mar- 
ried W.  V.  Crawford  and  they  have  Marjory  (6);  Edgar  (5)  married 
Elizabeth  McCoy;  Gertrude  (5)  married  Joseph  Woelfle  (see  Simp- 
son); Addison  (5),  Samuel  (5),  and  Ned  (5),  the  two  latter  are  at 
home  and  Addison  lives  in  the  West.  Amanda  (3)  married  a  Mr. 
Gray  and  had  Sidney  (4),  Amanda  (4),  Pink  (4),  George  (4),  Luther 
(4),  Marion  (4)  and  Charles  (4).  This  family  moved  to  California. 
Clinton  (3)  married  Fannie  Verhines  and  had  Marie  (4),  who  mar- 
ried John  A.  Carlton,  they  have  Francis  (5),  Zelma  (5),  Amy  (5)  and 
Marie  (5).  Francis  (5)  married  Jackson  Murrie  and  has  Mattie  Lou 
(6);  Minnie  (4)  married  John  Harris.  Lee  (3)  married,  children 
Thomas  (4)  and  Lucy  (4).  This  family  moved  to  Kansas  many 
years  ago.  Pleasant  G.  (3)  married  Unity  Gray  and  had  Frank  (4), 
who  married  Ettie  Shirley,  they  had  Ruth  (5),  who  married  Walter 
Taylor;   Angie   (5)    married  Loyd  Stout  and  their  children  are  Clyde 

(6)  and  Mildred  (6) ;  Almus  (4)  is  a  business  man  of  Centralia,  111., 
and  married  Bertha  Cox  of  this  county;  their  children  are  Vera  (5), 
Ebert  (5),  Mary  (5);  Malona  (4)  married  Charles  Mulinax  and  had 
children  Archie  (5),  Joel  (5)  and  Rollie   (5). 

V1CKERS 
The  Paternal  grandfather  of  Judge  Vickers  was  Thomas,  a  pioneer 
of  Warren  County  Kentucky,  from  that  state  he  came  to  Massac. 
County,  with  his  family  in  an  early  day.  James  (2),  a  son,  entered 
land  and  opened  a  farm  in  that  county.  He  married  Celia  Smith,  who 
was  born  in  Tuscumbia,  Alabama,  and  came  to  Massac  County,  about 
1840.  James  (2)  died  leaving  her  a  widow  with  two  small  sons, 
Alonzo  (3),  and  Richard  (3).  The  boys  were  obliged  to  assist  in 
making  the  living.  Alonzo  K.  attended  the  country  schools  and  the 
high  school  at  Metropolis  till  1874,  when  he  entered  the  office  of 
Judge  R.  W.  McCartney  of  that  city  and  prepared  himself  for  the 
practice  of  law.  He  farmed  part  of  the  time  for  the  next  few  years, 
putting  all  his  spare  time  on  his  chosen  profession.  In  1877  with 
a  clear  and  comprehensive  knowledge  of  law,  he  began  practice  in 
Metropolis.  Two  years  later  he  came  to  this  county  as  editor  and 
publisher  of  the  Vienna  Weekly  Times,  a  Democratic  newspaper.  He 
followed  this  profession  till  1880  when  he  returned  to  the  practice  of 
law,  in  which  he  was  very  successful,  and  well  known  in  all  the  courts 
of  Southern  Illinois.  He  was  elected  to  the  legislature  in  1886,  serv- 
ed one  term.  In  1891  he  was  elected  as  one  of  the  judges  of  the  first 
judicial  circuit,  which  position  he  filled  with  great  satisfaction  for 
two  successive  terms.  His  decisions  on  the  circuit  bench  had  made 
him  so  popular  that  he  was  elected  to  the  supreme  bench  1906.     He 


454         A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


lacked  a  few  months  of  serving  one  term  as  Supreme  Judge  of  Illi- 
nois. He  also  serving  as  Chief  Justice  of  the  state  during  this 
term.  On  his  election  to  this  office,  he  moved  with  his  family  to 
East  St.  Louis,  and  Johnson  County  lost  one  of  her  most  brilliant 
professional  men.  Judge  Vickers  died  in  East  St.  Louis,  in  the  prime 
of  life,  1914.  He  was  married  to  Leora  E.  Armstrong  of  Massac 
County,  1880.  They  had  children,  J.  F.,  who  is  a  lawyer  and  makes 
his  home  in  the  South.  Hazel  M.  is  a  business  woman  of  Chicago, 
111.;  Louise  the  youngest  is  the  wife  of  J.  A.  Moody  of  the  Moody 
Commission  Firm  of  East  St.  Louis;  they  have  Hazel  and  Betty  Lou. 
Judge  Vickers  was  a  staunch  Republican,  a  Mason,  a  member  and 
strong  supporter  of  the  M.  E.  Church.  His  widow  is  a  resident  of 
Vienna,  111.,  and  enters  into  the  church  and  social  activities  of  our 
village  with  interest  and  helpfulness. 

WALKER 
William  Walker  came  to  this  county  from  North  Carolina  by  way 
of  Tennessee,  stopping  there  for  a  while  as  did  most  of  our  citizens. 
He  reached  here  in  1840,  not  quite  as  early  as  some,  but  they  have 
been  residents  here  more  than  three-quartrs  of  a  century.  The 
children  were  Robert  James  (2),  William  (2),  Norrel  (2),  Charles  (2), 
VanBuren  (2),  Mary  (2),  Jane  (2),  Sarah  (2).  Robert  James  (2) 
married  Elizabeth  Carlton,  they  had  Francis  Ann  (3),  William  P. 
(3),  Lewis  F.  (3),  Joseph  J.  (3),  Kizzie  (3),  Permelia  (3).  Francis 
Ann  (3)  married  John  L.  Hogg,  had  India  (4),  who  married  Thomas 
Potter,  Ethel  (4)  married  Charles  Arnett;  neither  family  resides  in 
the  county;  William  P.  (3)  has  been  a  substantial  citizen  of  the 
county  all  his  life  and  esteemed  by  all  who  know  him.  He  married 
Sarah  E.,  daughter  of  John  M.  Gillespie,  and  their  children  were 
Hartley  W.  (4),  Lindorf  (4),  Oma  (4);  Hartley  W.  (4),  after  fininsh- 
ing  in  the  schools  of  the  county  selected  the  profession  of  medicine 
as  his  life  work,  graduating  from  John  Hopkins  University,  Baltimore, 
Md.,  1895.  He  practiced  in  this  county  at  Grantsburg  and  Vienna  for 
twenty-five  years,  and  moved  to  Creal  Springs  in  1923,  where  he  has 
charge  of  the  Creal  Springs  Sanitarium.  He  also  has  a  large  outside 
practice.  He  married  Mary,  daughter  of  Pleasant  and  Mary  (Farris) 
Rose  and  they  have  Wayne  (5),  who  married  Ethel  Morgan  and  is 
preparing  for  a  physician,  William  P.  (5)  married  Mary  Whitehead 
and  resides  at  Creal  Springs;  Lindorf  (4)  married  Pearl,  daughter  of 
James  Debman  of  this  county,  they  have  Willard  (5)  and  reside  at 
Cobden,  111.,  where  he  is  cashier  of  the  First  National  Bank;  Oma 
(4)  married  John  Hand  who  is  a  well  to  do  farmer  of  Grantsburg 
township,  and  they  have  Mabel  (5)  Linny  (5),  Jessie  (5),  John  Mor- 
gan   (5),    Mary    Bonnie    (5),    Betty    (5).     Dr.    Lewis    F.    Walker    (3), 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY  455 


graduated  from  Rush  Medical  College,   Chicago,  and  practiced  medi- 
cine in  and  around  Grantsburg  for  about  twenty   years,  dying  when 
rather   a   young   man.     He    married   Missouri   Howell,    and   they    had 
James    (4),  who  married  Miss  Trovillion  and  is  a  farmer  of  Grants- 
burg township;  Delasco  (4)  married  Lizzie  Simmons,  they  have  Lewis 
(5),  who  is  a  business  man  of  Grantsburg;   Rosco   (4)   married  Maud 
Farris  and  died  young  leaving  Joseph  (5).  Mrs.  Lewis  Walker  occupies 
her  old  home  in  Wartrace  or  Old  Grantsburg.     Dr.  J.  J.  Walker   (3) 
was  born  in  this  county  in  1855  and  also  graduated  from  Rush  Medi- 
cal College.     He  practiced  in  this  county  for  several  years,  residing 
in  Vienna.     He  married  Margaret  Flemming,  1878  and  they  had  De- 
costa   (4)   and  Pearl   (4).     Dr.  Walker  removed  to  Hot  Springs  more 
than  forty  years  ago  where  he  continued  his  practice  until  his  death; 
Decosta    (4),   followed   his   father   as   a   physician,   practicing   in   Hot 
Springs  until  1923,  when  he  died;   Pearl   (4)   is  the  wife  of  Mr.  Wil- 
liams  of   Little   Rock,    Arkansas.     Mrs.    Walker   still    resides    in   Hot 
Springs.     Kizzie  Walker   (3)   married  Milton  Hight  and  they  resided 
on  a  farm  in  the  eastern  section  of  the  county,  he  was  a  prosperous 
farmer   and    they    were    comfortably    situated    for    many    years.     Mr. 
Hight's  health  failed  and  they  went  to  Arizona,  where  he  died  1922. 
She  died  1924.'    Their  children  are  Viola   (4),  Myrtle    (4)    married  S. 
J.   Carter   (see  Harvick;    James   (4)   married  Holly   Clymer.     He  is  a 
veterinarian,   and   resides   in   Tempe,   Arizona;    William    (4),   married 
first  Alice  Clymore  of  this  county  and  has  Walton   (5).     He  married 
second  Mary   Griffy,  has  William    (5)    and   resides  on   the   old  home- 
stead.    William   (2)   married  Miss  McHenry  and  they  had  James  W. 
(3)   and  Mary   (3),  who  married  a  Mr.  Morris;   Norrel   (2)  married  a 
Miss  Neatherly  and  had  Robert   (3);   Van  Buren    (2)   went  to  Texas 
when  a  young  man;    Mary    (2)   married   Mr.   Ingram  and  removed  to 
Arkansas;    Jane    (2)    married   a  Mr.   Pressgrove;    Sarah    (2)    married 
Jacob  Johnson,  a  broghter  to  Joel. 

Edward  A.  Walker  is  a  native  of  this  county  and  a  son  of  Benja- 
min W.  who  married  Miss  Gann,  daughter  of  William  Gann,  an  old 
resident  and  first  class  farmer  of  Ganntown  this  county.  Edward 
received  his  education  in  the  public  schools  and  began  teaching  in 
the  county;  after  teaching  a  few  terms  he  decided  to  go  West  and 
grow  up  with  the  country,  which  he  did  settling  in  Ardmore,  Okla- 
home;  where  he  followed  teaching  for  a  while  but  finally  decided  on 
the  law  as  a  profession  and  became  quite  prominent  as  a  lawyer. 

He  became  interested  in  oil  and  gas  in  that  section  which  of 
course  was  very  remunerative.  He  later  removed  to  Oklahoma  City 
continuing  his  law  practice  and  engaging  in  the  banking  business. 
He  is  president  and  principal  owner  of  the  Tradesman's  National 
Bank  of  his  home  city   and  is   rated   as   one   of   the   richest   men   in 


456  A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


Oklahoma.     His  parents  removed  to  Oklahoma  but  are  both  deceased. 
He  married  late  in  life  but  has  no  children. 

WARDER 
Joseph  Warder  was  the  son  of  Walter  of  Fauquer  County,  Vir- 
ginia. Joseph  was  born  in  Kentucky,  where  he  married  Ann  Thomas, 
a  native  of  Tennessee,  and  daughter  of  Lieut.  Thomas  Kirkham,  of 
the  war  of  1812.  They  came  to  this  county  in  1851  and  both  taught 
here  for  many  years.  Mr.  Warder  was  also  a  carpenter,  and  assisted 
in  the  building  interests  of  the  town.  Their  children  were  Elizabeth 
(2),  who  married  S.  B.  Parks  and  resided  in  Du  Quoin,  111.;  Isabel 
(2),  married  W.  H.  Bundy  and  lived  in  Marion,  111.;  Walter  (2)  mar- 
ried Dora  (see  Bain),  they  reside  in  Cairo,  111.  Mr.  Warder  served 
in  the  State  Senate  from  his  district  several  terms.  On  one  occasion 
in  the  absence  of  the  Governor  and  Lieutenant  Governor,  by  virtue  of 
being  president  of  the  Senate,  he  was  governor  of  the  state  for  a 
short  period.  He  is  a  prominent  lawyer  and  with  his  son,  Walter, 
compose  the  firm  of  Warder  and  Warder.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Warder  lost 
their  only  daughter,  Winnifred  in  France  during  the  World  War, 
where  she  had  gone  in  the  service  of  her  country  as  a  member  of  a 
gas  unit;  William  Warder  (2)  married  Metta  Goodall  of  Marion,  where 
they  now  reside  and  where  he  is  a  prominent  attorney.  They  have 
Laura  Belle  (3);  Hattie  (3)  married  Fred  Stotlar;  Velsy  (3)  married 
Hosea  Ferrell;  Gertrude  (2)  married  C.  J.  Mitchellet  and  resides  in 
first  sewing  machine  and  baby  carriage  in  the  county.  Mrs.  Irabel 
first  sewing  machine  and  baby  carriage  in  the  county.  Mrs.  Isabel 
Marshalk  was  a  sister  of  Mrs.  Warder  and  also  a  prominent  teacher 
of  this  county.  She  married  Dr.  Asher  and  lived  in  New  Burnside 
for  some  time.  Mrs.  Warder  and  Mrs.  Marshalk  were  sisters  of  F.  C. 
Kirkham,  sheriff  of  this  county  1858. 

WEAVER 

Barnett  and  Nancy  Madden,  (sister  to  Locklin)  Weaver  were  early 
residents  of  this  county;  they  had  Francis  M.  (2),  who  married 
Elizabeth  Peterson;  Charlotte  (2)  married  Dr.  J.  B.  Ray;  Barnett  (2), 
father  of  the  late  James  Ray  Weaver  of  Pulaski  county;  Catherine 
(2)  married  Mathew  Hood;  Jasper  N.  (2)  and  John  (2). 

WEBB 

The  founder  of  the  Webb  family  in  this  county  was  Mitchell,  who 
was  born  in  North  Carolina  in  1793  and  came  to  Tennessee  with  his 
parents  in  1809.  Mitchell  married  first  Rhoda  Elmore,  second  Sarah 
Elmore,  both  of  Tennessee.  He  came  to  Illinois  in  1840,  settling  in 
Jefferson  county.  He  removed  from  Jefferson  to  Johnson  county 
settling  in  Tunnel  Hill  township  some  time  in  the  forties.     From  the 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY         457 


best  information  the  children  residing  in  this  county  were  Allen  (2) 
Frank  (2),  William  (2),  Elisha  (2),  Barton  (2),  Thomas  (2),  Daniel 
(2),  Polly  (2),  James  (2),  Rhoda  (2),  Elizabeth  (2).  Allen  Webb  (2) 
married  Mary  Coonce,  they  had  Arrah  Ann  (3),  Narcissa  (3),  Wil- 
liam (3),  Frank  M.  (3),  Daniel  (3),  Henry  (3).  Arrah  Ann  (3)  mar- 
ried Jackson  Vinson  and  had  Lucy  (4)  married  J.  C.  Webb;  Caro- 
line (4)  married  C.  C.  Kelly  (3);  Josie  (4)  married  Levi  Edmonds; 
Allen  (4)  married  Ulphia  Lennon;  Celia  (4)  married  Rolla  Royster; 
D.  C.  (4)  married  Sina  Dillow;  Nellie  (4)  married  Gardner  Moore; 
Rettie  (4)  married  Lee  Kelly;  Pleas  (4)  married  Lily  Goddard. 
Narcissa  (3)  married  John  Whitehead,  children  Narcis  (4)  married 
.Marion  Vinson;  J.  F.  (4)  married  Belle  Brooks,  Mary  (4)  married 
W.  W.  Johnson,  A.  S.  (4)  married  Rebecca  Goddard;  Isadora  (4) 
married  William  Webb;  Delia  (4)  married  Anson  Newbold;  Ida  (4) 
married  Tip  Albright;  Cora  (4)  married  Eugene  Eskew,  Nora  (4) 
married  Jesse  Jackson.  William  (3)  married  Nancy  Casey,  they  had 
Angie  (4)  who  married  Frank  Webb  (4);  Zilla  (4)  married  Frank 
Whittenberg,  they  had  Mabel  (5);  Zilla  (4)  married  second  Mr.  Moser; 
Rosco  (4),  Willis  (4),  Charles  (4),  Levi  (4),  Moody  (4),  Logan  (4). 
Frank  (3)  married  Anna  Kelly  children,  Rosanna  (4)  married  George 
Bennett;  Edward  (4)  married  Amanda  Bess;  Elijah  (4)  married  Cora 
James;  Lily  Ann  (4)  married  Ferrell  Kelly;  Nathaniel  (4)  married 
Alta  Whitehead;  Augustus  (4),  Parley  (4)  married  Miss  Cato;  Delia 
(4)  married  William  Johnson,  Noma  (4)  married  T.  C.  Olsen.  Daniei 
(3)  married  Caroline  Grace,  children  Mary  Jane  (4)  married  John 
Boner;  Allen  (4)  married  Virginia  Dillow;  Travis  (4)  married  Mina 
Dillow;  Silvester  (4)  married  Sally  Westbrook;  George  (4)  marrietT 
Dimple  Choate;  Marion  (4)  married  Albania  Moore;  Nancy  (4) 
married  Edward  Lamphier;  Lula  (4)  married  Albert  Sherbaum;  Bar 
ton  (4)  married  Jay  Edmonds;   A.  M.   (4)  married  Issa  Boner;  Henry 

(2)  never  married.  Frank  Webb  (2)  married  Patsy  Myatt,  children 
Mithcell  (3,  Nimrod  (3),  Wiliam  (3),  Sarah  (3)  married  George 
Harrell;  Nancy  Jane  (3)  married  William  Stonum;  Marganey  (3) 
married  Hezekiah  Burklow;  Mitchel  (3)  married  Marina  Kelly;  Nim- 
rod (3)  married  Clementine  Simmons,  children  Paralee  (4)  married 
Mitchel  Webb;  Frank  (4)  married  Angie  Webb  (4);  Laura  (4)  mar- 
ried Timothy  Fitzgerald;  Rana  (4)  married  Adolphus  Albright;  Mag- 
gie (4)  married  Charles  Smith,  children  Gladys  (5),  Edward  (5),  Goldie 
(5),  Roy  (5);  William  (3)  married  Jane  Grace.  William  (2)  married 
Anna  Smith,  children  Mitchel  (3),  Carroll  (3),  Nancy  Jane  (3)  married 
David   Elmore.     Elisha    (2)    married    Nancy   Kelly   they   had   Mary   E. 

(3)  married  William  C.  Choat;  Rhoda  A.  (3)  married  William  Sutton 
(see  W.  E.  Sutton);  Martha  C.  (3)  married  George  W.  Chism;  L.  C. 
(3)    married    Cynthia    Bradley;    Marina    (3)    married    D.    W.    Casey; 


458         A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


Arm  K.  (3)  married  F.  L.  Parks;  J.  C.  (3)  married  Lucy  Vinson, 
Tabitha  S.  (3),  married  John  Boner,  William  M.  (3)  married  Isadora 
Whitehead,  I.  T.  (3)  married  Delia  Miles.  Barton  Webb  (2)  married 
Talitha  Kelly,  children  Jasper  (3);  Polly  (3)  married  Wililam  Busby; 
Clinton  (3)  married  Haley  Smith;  Christopher  (3)  married  Flora 
Hall;  Lee  H.  (3)  married  Josie  Jobe;  Dora  (3)  married  Silvester 
Cavitt.     Daniel   Webb    (2)    married  Rebecca  Choat,   children  Lucinda 

(3)  married  Joseph  Smith;  Elvira  (3)  married  Daniel  Webb;  Elsie  (3) 
married  Hugh  McMahan,  they  had  Everett  (4),  married  Helen  Veach 
(see  Chapman);  Bell  (3)  married  Charles  Kem,  Emma  (3)  married 
Peter  McMahan,  children,  Harry  (4),  Grace  (4),  Paul  (4),  Earl  (4), 
Alma  (4),  and  John  (4);  Minerva  (3)  married  Julius  Cavitt;  Lily  (3)- 
married  Charles  Casey;  Amos  (3)  married  Betty  Jobe.  Thomas 
Webb  (2)  married  Miss  Taylor,  children  Daniel  (3),  Amanda  (3), 
married   Jud    Eskew;    married    second    Pleas   Riley,    children,    Hattie 

(4)  married  Walter  Vinson;  Ivy  (4),  Leon  (4)  married  Earl  Brooks. 
Polly  Webb  (2)  children,  Jasper  (3)  never  married;  Nancy  (3)  mar- 
ried Samuel  Simmons. 

Rhoda  (2)  married  Leander  H.  Kelly,  they  had  Linda  (3)  mar- 
ried Isaac  Smith;  Hiram  (3),  William  (3)  married  Anna  Gold; 
Thomas  (3)  married  Jane  Hickman;  John  (3)  married  May  Parish ; 
Evilyne  (3)  married  Andrew  Mathis;  Mary  (3)  married  John  Mc- 
Cormack. 

Elizabeth  (2)  married  W.  R.  Kelly,  children  Columbus  (3)  mar- 
ried Caroline  Vinson  (4);  Carroll  (3)  married  Lona  Whiteside;  Travis 
(3)  married  Sid  Burklow;  Artemissa  (3)  married  Samuel  Smith, 
they  had  Frank  (4)  who  died  in  young  manhood,  Bernice  (4)  married 
Paul  Morris;  Lawrence  (4),  Estella  (3),  Viola  (3). 

WEST 
Governor  Reynolds,  in  his  history  says  of  the  West  family  thar 
"they  are  English  and  came  with  Calvert,  Lord  Baltimore,  to  Mary- 
land 1632".  He  was  referring  to  the  Wests  of  Madison  County,  111. 
Hezekiah  West,  no  doubt  belonged  to  this  same  family.  He  stated  he 
was  born  in  Fredrick  County,  Md.,  in  1763  and  was  the  only  son  of 
John  West.  When  Hezekiah  was  seven  or  eight  years  old  his  father, 
with  his  family  moved  to  Sandy  River,  Camden  district,  S.  C.  His 
father,  John  West,  enlisted  in  the  patriot  army  in  1777,  in  Captain 
Winn's  company  of  mounted  rangers,  Colonel  Thompson's  regiment; 
served  fourteen  months  and  was  killed  in  an  engagement  at  St.  Tibbs. 
Hezekiah  enlisted  in  the  same  cause  for  freedom  at  the  age  of  seven- 
teen. His  record  is  found  under  "Revolutionary  Soldiers".  The  fam- 
ily tradition  is  that  Hezekiah  West  came  to  this  county  in  1809  or  10; 
his  name  appears  on   the  county  records  in   1813.     He  was  a  man  of 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY  459 


education  and  served  the  county  as  a  teacher  and  in  other  capacities 
He  was  undoubtedly  a  pioneer  of  the  right  sort,  influential,  useful,  re- 
ligious and  of  the  highest  moral  character.  He  died  in  Johnson  county 
July  29,  1845.  A  walking  cane  owned  and  used  by  him,  can  be  seen 
in  the  Carnegie  Library,  Vienna,  111.,  placed  there  by  the  Daniel 
Chapman  Chapter  D.  A.  R.  The  handle  of  the  cane  is  made  from  the 
antlers  of  a  deer  killed  by  Hezekiah  West.  He  married  Priscilla 
Osborn,  1784.  Their  children  were  Sally  (2),  born  1785,  John  (2) 
born  1787,  Temperance  (2)  born  1790,  Mary  (2)  born  1792,  never  mar- 
ried, Lucy  (2)  born  1794,  Asa  (2)  born  1797,  Elizabeth  (2)  born  1799, 
Marcy  (2)  born  1801,  Patsy  (2)  born  1804,  Fannie  (2)  born  1806, 
W'ililam  M.  (2)  born  1809.  Sally  (2)  married  Rix  Carter  and  they 
had  William  (3),  Moulton  (3),  Asa  (3),  Eliza  (3),  Nancy  (3),  Marcy 
(3),  William  (3)  married  Mary  Ann  Deans,  they  had  Madison  (4)  and 
Marshall  (4).  William  (3)  being  an  M.  E.  minister  and  belonging 
to  a  conference  did  not  reside  in  this  county,  consequently  little 
is  known  of  his  two  sons  Madison  and  Marshall.  Madison  (4),  was 
a  physician  and  practiced  in  central  Illinois  and  Indiana.  He  had  two 
daughters,  one  of  whom  is  Helen.  She  is  married  and  lives  in  Chi- 
cago. Marshall  (4)  was  a  minister,  had  one  daughter,  Marie,  who 
married  Benjamin  F.  McGee  of  this  county.  He  had  other  children, 
names  not  known.  Some  members  of  this  family  reside  in  Los 
Angeles,  Calif.;  Moulton  (3)  married  Martha  Pruitt,  children  John 
M.  (4),  W.  B.  (4).  John  M.  (4)  married  Martha  Alice  Cheek  and 
their  children  were  Ida  (5),  May  (5),  who  married  a  Mar,  Capoot  and 
lived  in  Mound  City,  John  (5);  William  B.  (4)  married  Mary  Morgan 
and  had  Glen  (5)  who  married  Blanch  Reece;  Dean  (5),  Fred  (5), 
the  sons  and  mother  are  dead;  Asa  (3)  married  Melissie  Mulky  and 
their  children  were  Ortie  (4),  who  married  Artemissa  Hardy,  Frank 
(4)  married  Mary  Ann  Brown,  and  had  Harvey  (5),  who  married 
Cora  Mackey  and  they  have  Glen  (6);  Calvin  (4)  married  Rena 
Davidson  and  had  May  (5);  Phillip  (4)  (no  history);  Eliza  (3)  mar- 
ried William  T.  Jones  and  their  children  were  Hattie  (4)  and  Etheldred 
(4),  Hattie  (4)  married  Henry  S.  Perkins  (see  Simpson).  Etheldred 
(4)  was  a  Baptist  minister  and  lived  in  Cypress  community  where  he 
preached  for  many  years.  He  married  first,  Elizabeth  Davis  and  they 
had  Melvin  (5),  who  married  Laura  Bridges,  their  daughter. 
Glenna  (6),  married  Owen  Stanley,  and  they  have  Owen  (7);  Ethel- 
dred  (4)   married  second  Ellen  Henard  and  had  Ethel    (5),  who  mar 

ried  Ralph  Peeler,  Lester  (5)  who  married  Mabel they 

had  John  P.  (6)  and  Josephine  (6);  Nancy  (3)  married  Jehu  Axley 
and  their  children  were  William  (4),  James  (4)  and  Luke  (4);  Marcy 
Carter  (3)  married  Leonard  Morgan  and  their  children  were  Mary 
Ann   (4),  Jane   (4),  Nancy   (4),  Chandler   (4).     Jane   (4)   married  Fred 


460         A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


Trusty,  Nancy  (4)  married  Hugh  Sutliff;  Marcy  (3)  married  Mr.  Mc 
Kenzie.  Temperance  (2)  married  Richard  Mercer  and  their  children 
were  Priscilla  (3),  Sarah  (3),  Thomas  (3),  W.  Emerson  (3),  John 
Deans  (3),  Nancy  (3),  Catherine  (3),  Hezekiah  W.  (3),  Martha  (3), 
Elizabeth  (3).  Priscilla  (3)  married  John  Standard  and  their  children 
were  Melvina  (4),  who  married  Jesse  L.  Porter,  and  they  had  Jane 
(5),  Alice  (5),  Elizabeth  (5),  John  (5),  William  (5),  Arle  (5).  Jane 
(5)  married  Gilford  Pippins  1873,  children  Mrs.  Adah  Thompson 
(6),  Mrs.  Ella  Ford  (6),  Mrs.  Laura  Crowder  (6),  Mrs.  Ola  Irwin  (6). 
Mrs.  Cora  Hester  (6).  James  (6),  Jessie  (6).  Alice  (5)  married 
Clayton  (see  Cummins);  Elizabeth  (5)  married  Paul  Comer,  children 
Nora  (6),  Alma  (6),  Loyd  (6),  John  (6),  Dimple  (6).  Nora  (6)  mar- 
ried A.  Rhodes,  children  Blanch  (7)  married  Earl  Burnet  Edna  (7) 
married  J.  Clem  and  has  Robert  (8);  Nora  married  second  (see 
Carter);  Alma  (6)  married  Geo.  Fairless;  Dimple  (6)  married  Ed- 
ward Cheek.  Elizabeth  (4)  married  Eli  Morgan;  Temperance  (4) 
married  Milburn  Smith;  Jane  (4)  married  William  Mangum,  chil- 
dren Elizabeth  (5),  Bell  (5)  married  Mr.  Pully  of  Stonefort  and  has 
Guy  (7);  Sabina  (4)  married  James  Jenkins.  Sarah  (3)  married  John 
Allen  1835  and  had  William  Copeland  (4),  who  married  Francis  (see 
Calhoun)  and  Melissa  (4)  who  married  John  Martin  and  had  one 
daughter  who  married  Mr.  Holehouser.  Sarah  (3)  married  second 
Alex  Smith  and  had  Mary  J.  (4)  who  married  Tobias  Hartman  and 
their  children  were  Ella  (5)  who  married  Samuel  H.  Reese  and  has 
Walter  (6),  Theodore  (6),  Guy  (6),  Blanch  (6),  Edith  (6),  Helen  (6). 
Etta  (5)  married  Dr.  Edgar  Knieppe  and  hesides  in  Mt.  Carmel,  111. 
They  have  Percy  (6),  Dorothy  (6),  Edith  (6),  Mary  Belle  (6);  Ethel 
(5)  married  James  Main  of  Karnack  and  their  children  are  Allen  (6), 
Mary  Ellen  (6),  Charles  (6);  Thomas  (3)  married  Minerva  Allen  (sis- 
ter to  John)  no  knowledge  of  family;  W.  Emerson  (3)  married 

Axley  and  their  children  were  T.  A.  (4)  a  Methodist  minister  said  to 
be  living  in  Colorado.  No  history  of  others.  John  Deans  (3)  mar- 
ried Nancy  Thompson  and  had  one  son  said  to  be  living  at  Little 
River   Missouri;    Nancy    (3)    married   Elijah   Axley   and   had    children 

L (4),   Perry    (4)    and   French    (4);    Catherine    (3)    married 

Isaac  Axley  brother  to  Elijah  and  son  of  Robert,  their  children  were 
Laura  (4),  who  married  Robert  Martin  and  Leonora  (4)  who  mar- 
ried Mr.  Sayers  and  has  Swank  (5);  Martha  (3)  married  Jesse 
Hodge  and  they  had  three  daughters  one  of  whom  lives  at  Salem. 
111.;  Elizabeth  (3)  married  Owen  Peterson,  son  of  Thomas,  and  had 
Mary  Ann  (4),  Martha  (4),  Clementine  (4)  and  Mrs.  Thompson  (4). 
Mary  Ann  (4)  married  R.  W.  Brown  and  their  children  are  Ellen 
(5),  George  (5),  Owen  (5),  Austin  (5).  Ellen  (5)  married  Green 
(see  Thacker),  George  (5)   married  Kate  (see  McFatridge)   and  Owen 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY         461 


P.  (5)  married  first  a  Miss  Reed  (see  R.  W.  Brown).  Martha  (4) 
married  George  Boomer,  they  had  Nathanial  (6)  who  married 
Lubeth  Calhoun,  Nola  (5)  married  Scott  Lenark,  Helen  (5)  married 
a  Mr.  Goforth,  the  two  later  families  live  in  Colorado.  Simeon  (5) 
is  a  member  of  the  faculty  of  the  Southern  Illinois  Normal  and  re- 
sides  at   Carbondale.     He   married   May    Kaiser  and   has   George    (6; 

and  ;  Clementine  (4)  married  F.  B.  (see  Thacker),  Mrs 

Thompson  (4)  had  Joshua  (5)  who  married  a  Miss  Pippins,  and 
Mary  Ann  (5).  They  reside  in  Mo.;  Hezekiah  W.  (3)  married  Nancy 
Ellis,  one  son  lives  in  Guthrie,  Okla.;  Lucy  (2)  married  John  Robert- 
son; Asa  (2)  married  Fannie  Osborn;  Elizabeth  West  (2)  married 
John  Axley  and  their  children  were  Temperance  (3),  Jehu  (3) 
and    Bud    (3).     Temperance    (3),    born    1817    married   Naman    Martin, 

1835,  who  was   born   1817.     Their   children  were   Elizabeth    (4),   born 

1836,  Francis  (4),  born  1838,  William  (4),  born  1839,  Alexander  (4), 
born  1841,  Robert  A.  (4),  born  1843,  Henry  S.  (4),  born  1845,  Owen 
P.  (4),  born  1846,  John  L.  (4),  born  1848,  Sarah  A.  (4),  born  1850, 
Martha  Jane  (4),  born  1852,  Nancy  E.  (4),  born  1854,  George  W. 
(4),  born  1856,  Andrew  J.  (4),  born  1857,  Jehu  (4),  born  1858,  Samuel 
B.  (4),  born  1859,  Stephen  A.  (4),  born  1862.  Francis  (4)  married 
Moses  Jones  1854  and  had  William  (5),  Margaret  (5)  who  married 
Mr.  Beggs;  William  (4)  married  Amanda  Hudson  1860;  Alexander 
(4)  married  Martha  (West)  Smith,  1864,  and  had  Robert  (5),  and 
Alice  (5),  who  married  John  Moak.  Tney  had  George  (6)  who  mar- 
ried Ruby  Axley  and  reside  in  Cypress. 

Robert  A.  (4)  married  Laura  Axley  1872;  Dr.  O.  P.  (4)  married 
Ellen  Axley  1871,  they  had  Addie  (5) ;  he  married  second  Orpha  Shirk, 
died  1923;  Sarah  Anne  (4)  married  first  Thomas  Peterson  and  second 
Joseph  Edleman  and  they  had  one  son  Dr.  Owen  Edleman  (5) ;  An- 
drew J.  (4)  married  Melisse  (Mulky)  Carter;  John  L.  (4)  married 
Sula  Pruett  and  had  Albert  (5),  Douglas  (5),  Guy  (5),  Duty  (5), 
Tempy  (5),  Grace  (5),  Maggie  (5);  Jehu  (4)  married  Anna  Harvel, 
children  Maud  (5),  married  Oscar  Brock  and  they  have  Ruby  (6), 
Dorothy  (6),  Ruth  (6),  Dolly  (6);  Ruth  (5)  married  Claude  Cochran 
and  they  have  Geneva  (6),  Marshall  (6),  Guy  (6);  Bertie  (5)  mar- 
ried William  Williams;  Stephen  A.  D.  (4)  married  Bertha  Lyons  and 
they  had  Victor  (5)  who  resides  in  Washington,  D.  C;  Bernice  (5) 
who  married  Ray  Roller  and  lives  in  Karnack,  111.;  Martha  Jane  (4) 
married  Elbert  Norval  and  had  Owen  (5);  George  W.  (4)  married 
Jennie  Tarwater  and  had  Austin  (6)  and  Owen  (5). 

Marcy  (2)  married  Thomas  Standard;  and  Patsy  (2)  married 
Edward  Osborn  and  they  had  Arminda  (3)  and  Evelyn  (3);  Evelyn 
(3)  married  a  Mr.  Chapman,  Arminda  (3)  married  A.  J.  Martin  and 
they  had  John   (4)   who  married  Crynthia  Deans  and  they  had  Rena 


462  A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


(5)  James  (5),  Seth  (5),  Clinton  (5),  Orpha  (5).  James  (5)  married 
Laura  Hurley  and  they  have  John  (6)  and  Nell  (6).  Seth  (5)  mar- 
ried Sarah  Groner  and  has  Elwood  (6),  Norwanda  (6);  Francis  (2) 
married  Robert  Axley  and  they  had  James  (3),  Jackson  (3),  Uriah 
(3),  Terry  (3),  Mary  (3),  Spencer  (3).  James  (3)  married  a  Miss 
Mitchel  and  had  Avy  Ann  (4),  who  married  a  Mr.  Amburn;  Jack 
son  (3)  married  first  N.  O.  Gray's  daughter  and  they  had  Isaac  (4) 
he  married  second  Crynthia  Copeland,  they  had  Ellen  (4)  (see  Mar- 
tin);  Loren  (4)  and  James  (4),  married  Ella  Rutledge,  niece  to  Ann. 
they  had  Myrtle  (5),  William  (5).  He  married  second  Maranda  An 
derson,  children  Earl  (5),  Seth  (5),  Raymond  (5),  Rollo  (5).  James 
was  a  teacher  in  the  Oregon  for  many  years.  He  died  about  1920. 
His  family  are  all  in  the  West.  Uriah  (3)  married  Sarah  Sutliff  and 
had  Asa  (4)  and  Betty  (4);  Terry  (3)  married  Sarah  Peeler  and  the 
children  were  Amanda  (4)  who  married  Charles  Collins;  Mary  (Pol 
ly)  (3)  married  W.  D.  Deans,  born  1826.  He  served  in  the  120th 
Illinois  Volunteer  Infantry  also  held  different  positions  of  trust  in 
the  county  and  was  an  influential  and  useful  citizen  of  the  West 
Eden  neighborhood.  He  removed  to  Alma,  Kansas,  1880.  He  was  a 
Mason  and  a  member  of  the  M.  E.  Church.  Their  children  were 
John  (4),  who  married  Mary  Buford  and  they  had  four  children,  all 
of  whom  reside  in  Kansas;  Simon  K.  (4)  married  Mary  Strieker,  1877 
and  their  children  are  Elmer  (5),  Arthur  (5),  Lewis  (5),  Estella 
(5),  Howard  (5).  Arthur  Deans  has  been  manager  of  the  Charles 
Stone  Quarry  at  Whitehill,  this  county,  since  its  establishment.  He 
married  May  Adams  and  has  Pauline  (6),  Morris  (6),  Mary  Ann  (6), 
Robert  (6) ;  Elmer  (5)  married  Roxy  Davis  and  they  have  Ward 
(6),  Edris  (6),  James  (6);  Estella  (5)  married  James  Cane;  Crynthia 
(4)  married  John  Martin  (see  Patsy  West  (2);  Rena  (4)  married  Jos- 
eph Newton  and  they  have  Ida  (5)  who  married  John  Sharp,  and  their 
children  are  Samuel  (6),  who  married  Lela  Darst,  Robert  (6)  and 
Harry  (6) ;  Spencer  (3)  married  Nancy  Jones  and  they  had  William 
(4)  who  married  Elizabeth  Watson  and  their  children  are  William 
(5),  and  Ruby  (5),  who  married  George  (see  Martin);  Sarah  (4) 
married  Moulton  Vaughn. 

William  (2)  married  first  Lydia  Peterson  and  they  had  Joshua 
(3),  Asa  (3),  Matha  (3),  A.  J.  (3)  and  George  (3);  Joshua  (3)  mar- 
ried Evelyn  Smith  and  they  had  William  (4)  and  James  (4);  Joshua 
(3)  married  second  Elizabeth  Kuykendall,  their  children  were 
Joseph  (4),  Cina  (4),  Lydia  (4)  and  Cora  (4).  William  (4)  mar- 
ried Sadie  Shirk  and  their  children  are  Everett  (5),  Clifford  (5), 
Lois  (5),  Reba  (5),  William  (5).  Everett  (5)  married  Myrtle  Hodge; 
Clifford  (5)  married  Myrtle  Greer  and  has  Doris  (6),  George  (6) 
Harold    (6);    Lois    (5)    married  Richard    Duncan   and   has   Kivel    (6). 


A  HISTORY  OF1  JOHNSON  COUNTY         463 


Pauline  (6),  Virginia  (6);  Reba  (5)  married  Joseph  Smith;  Joseph 
(t)  married  Verna  Meyers;  Cina  (4)  married  Dr.  Hall  Whiteaker; 
Cora  (4)  married  first  James  Phoenix  and  they  had  Zeno  (5),  she 
married  second  Edward  Hooker;  Lydia  (4)  married  Harold  Spauld- 
ing  and  has  Louise  (6);  Martha  (3)  married  first  George  Smith  and 
second  Alexander  (see  Martin).  A.  J.  (3)  and  George  (3)  died  in 
young  manhood.     Asa  (3)  was  an  M.  E.  minister. 

WHITEAKER 
Captain  Mark  Whiteaker  was  born  in  Williamson  County  in 
1S33  near  New  Burnside.  His  grandfather,  Mark  Whiteaker,  came  to 
southern  Illinois  as  early  as  1818  or  1820.  His  father,  Hall,  came 
here  from  Tennessee  where  he  had  married  Elvira  Damron.  John 
Damron,  the  father  of  Elvira,  was  a  revolutionary  soldier  serving 
from  Virginia.  John  Damron  married  Anna  of  Wales,  British  lies. 
Their  children  were  Agnes,  who  married;  Stephen  Gill,  his  father 
Benjamine  Gill,  was  also  a  Revolutionary  soldier.  Elvira  married 
Hall  Whiteaker;  Melissa  married  William  Choate;  Noah  married 
Mary  Ann  Thornton;  David  married  Belle  Casey.  These  families 
all  lived  in  Johnson  county  except  David.  Tradition  says  the  Damron 
family  came  originally  from  Virginia.  Captain  Whiteaker  remembers 
stories  of  Virginia  told  him  by  his  maternal  Grandmother.  Hall 
Whiteaker  born  in  1811  and  Elvira  born  about  1816  settled  in  Wil- 
liamson county,  but  later  came  to  Johnson,  settling  on  the  stage 
road  leading  from  Cape  Girardeau  to  Shawneetown,  near  what  is 
now  New  Burnside  where  most  of  their  children  were  born  and 
raised.  Mark  (2)  born  1833,  Anna  (2)  born  1835,  Ginsey  (2)  born 
1836,  William  H.  (2)  born  1839,  Polly  (2)  born  1841,  John  (2)  born 
1843.  Mark  Whiteaker  assisted  in  organizing  Company  G.  120  Illinois 
Volunteers,  and  was  made  its  captain  1862,  and  his  brothers  W.  H. 
and  J.  A.  served  in  his  company.  After  the  close  of  the  war  he  fol- 
lowed farming  many  years  in  Burnside  township,  in  the  meantime 
serving  as  associate  judge  of  the  county  and  was  later  elected  sheriff. 
Captain  Whiteaker  (1924)  is  now  in  his  ninety-first  year  and  has  re- 
sided in  Vienna  since  retiring  from  his  farm.  He  has  a  remarkable 
memory  for  his  age  and  enjoys  the  esteem  of  all  who  know  him.  He 
is  a  stanch  Republican,  a  Mason  and  a  member  of  the  Grand  Army 
Vienna  Post.  He  and  wife  are  members  of  the  M.  E.  Church, 
as  was  his  mother,  and  he  attends  services  regularly  even  at  his  age. 
He  married  Elizabeth  Deaton.  The  children  are  Arista  (3)  born 
1862,  married  Isaac  McElroy;  their  children  are  William  (4),  Mark 
(4),  Josephine  (4),  Miles  (4)  and  Isaac  (4);  Martha  (3)  born  1865, 
married  Oscar  Burris,  they  reside  in  Vienna  and  have  Melvin  (4), 
Albert  (4),  Geneva  (4)   and  Martha  June   (4);   Geneva   (3)  born  1867. 


464         A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


married  Dr.  A.  I.  Brown,  their  children  are  Essie  (4),  Charles  (4), 
who  married  Gertrude  Teeter,  of  Murphysboro,  where  they  reside, 
Hall  (3)  born  1869,  married  Cina  West;  second,  Grace  Barette,  chil 
dren  Helen  (4)  and  Juanita  (4).  He  is  a  physician  of  Santa  Cruz, 
Calif.  William  (3)  born  in  1871,  married  Alice  Mathis.  He  is  a  phy- 
sician of  Harrisburg,  111.,  and  they  have  one  son;  Thomas  (3)  born 
1873,  married  Emma  Hight,  he  was  accidently  killed  in  early  man- 
hood and  left  one  daughter  Uba  (4) ;  Elizabeth  (3)  born  1877,  married 
John  (see  Mathis) ;  Gertrude  (3)  born  1879,  married  Amos  Compton, 
they  live  at  Marion,  111.  Captain  Whiteaker  and  wife  celebrated 
their  golden  wedding  anniversary  1910.  Mark  85,  W.  M.  79.  Their 
sister,  Mrs.  Anna  Newbold,  83,  spent  the  day  with  their  brother,  J.  A. 
Whiteaker,  on  his  75th  birthday  1813,  at  his  home  near  Ozark.  These 
four  "young  people"  were  left  to  have  the  day  entirely  to  themselves 
which  they  did  preparing  their  own  dinner  and  no  doubt  recalling 
many  childhood  incidents. 

WILEY 
.The  Wiley  family  came  here  before  the  civil  war  and  settled  on  a 
farm  southwest  of  Vienna.  The  head  of  the  family  was  John  and  they 
came  from  Ohio.  Their  children  were  H.  B.  (2),  who  was  a  substan- 
tial farmer  living  west  of  Vienna  and  above  the  average  in  education. 
He  took  an  active  part  in  the  political  questions  of  the  day  and  was 
for  ten  years  or  more  the  first  man  to  pay  his  taxes  in  the  county. 
He  married  Catherine,  daughter  of  William  Whitemore,  who  was  a 
prominent  man  in  the  county,  about  Civil  War  times.  Several  other 
members  of  the  Whitemore  family  resided  here  at  that  time,  but  none 
are  living  here  at  the  present.  The  children  of  H.  B.  (2)  and  Cathei- 
ine  were  H.  C.  (3),  who  married  Zora  Gurley;  W.  L.  (3),  married 
Louisa  Turley,  they  had  William  (4)  and  Floyd  (4);  May  (3)  mar- 
ried Thomas  Hester,  their  children  are  Mildred  (4)  and  Marion  (4). 
Frank  (3)  married  Viney  Sullins,  and  they  have  Myrtle  (4),  who 
married  Mr.  Barter;  Samuel  (3)  married  Ruth  Carlton  (see  Slack). 
Rachel  (2)  married  Thomas  Utley,  their  children  were  William  (3) 
who  married  Dora  Watson;  Elizabeth  (3)  married  T.  N.  Fore- 
man. Benjamin  (3)  was  an  M.  E.  minister  and  married  a  Miss 
Bean  of  the  West  Eden  settlement.  W.  R.  Wiley  (2)  married  Libbie 
E.  (see  Chapman)  and  is  a  merchant  of  Auburn,  Washington.     Sarah 

(2)  married  John  Sutliff,  and  they  reared  a  family  on  a  farm,  three 
miles  southwest  of  Vienna.  Their  children  were  Hannah  (3),  mar- 
ried Fredinan  (see  Mathis) ; Elizabeth  (3)  married  a  Mr.  Borthick, 
and  has  Inez  (4).  Martha  (3)  married  W.  P.  Emerson,  they  reside 
near  Bloomfield;  Abe  (3)  married  Bertha  Mathis,  and  they  are  also 
residents  of  this   county;    Rachel    (3)    married   Bailey   Gann;    Fannie 

(3)  married  T.   C.  Newby;    Lily    (3)    married  George   Harvick;    John 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY  465 


(3)  resides  on  the  home  farm;   Lucy   (3)  married  Grover  Ridenhower 
and  died  soon  afterward. 

WILLIAMS 
W.  L.  Williams  was  born  in  Tennessee  in  1848.  He  was  a  son  of 
Levi  and  Nellie  (Howard)  Williams,  who  were  both  natives  of  South 
Carolina.  The  father  came  to  this  state  in  1863,  residing  first  in 
Pope  County,  later  moving  to  Johnson.  W.  L.  Williams  began  his 
business  career  at  Lincoln  Green  in  the  southwest  section  of  the 
county,  in  1870  as  a  merchant.  His  first  business  building  was  made 
of  logs.  He  kept  a  general  store  and  was  the  postmaster  at  that 
place  until  1876  when  he  moved  his  home  and  business  to  Belknap 
where  he  has  been  very  successful.  He  conducts  a  mercantile  busi- 
ness and  has  been  in  business  longer  than  any  man  in  the  county, 
52  years;  owns  a  well  equipped  flour  mill  as  well  as  farming  inter- 
ests in  the  neighboring  section.  He  was  postmaster  at  Belknap  for 
several  years,  also  served  the  county  as  commissioner.  Mr.  Williams 
has  been  one  of  the  most  enterprising  and  progressive  citizens  of 
that  community  and  has  been  vice-president  of  the  First  National 
Bank  of  Vienna  for  years.  He  is  a  Mason,  an  Odd  Fellow,  a 
Republican  and  a  Methodist.  He  married  first  Clara  B.  Compton, 
had  children.  H.  O.,  Myrtle,  and  Ida.  H.  O.  was  educated  in  the 
public  schools  of  the  county  and  Lebanon,  111.  He  graduated  from 
Barnes  Medical  College  of  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  in  1896  and  practiced  medi- 
cine in  Belknap  and  vicinity  for  several  years,  when  he  removed  to 
Centralia,  111.  After  a  special  course  in  a  college  for  the  treatment 
of  the  ear  and  eye,  in  Chicago,  111.,  he  entered  the  Haley  Infirmary 
at  Centralia,  with  Dr.  Laybourn.  Dr.  H.  O.  married  Madge,  daughter 
of  D.  F.  Beauman,  of  this  county  and  has  one  daughter,  Clara; Myrtle 
married  Theodore  Cousins,  they  have  Billy,  and  reside  at  Du 
Quoin,  111.;  W.  L.  Williams  married  second  Alice  Compton, 
children  Bertha,  Edith,  Flossie  and  Duncan.  Bertha  married  David 
Main  of  the  firm  of  Main  Brothers,  Karnack,  111.  They  reside  in 
Colorado  Springs,  Colorado,  and  have  William.  Edith  married 
B.  Baldridge  of  Centralia,  111.  He  died  several  years  ago  leaving 
children,  Ross,  Beba  and  Bertholdt.  They  also  reside  in  Centralia. 
Flossie  Married  Dr.  Ray  Cummins,  who  is  a  dentist  of  Murphysboro. 
They  have  one  daughter,  Alice.     Ida  and  Duncan  died  in  youth. 

WHITESIDE 
James  Whiteside  was  a  native  of  Virginia  and  came  to  Illinois 
Territory  about  1800,  and  is  supposed  to  belong  to  the  same  family 
as  the  famous  Col.  William  Whiteside.  John  was  the  son  of  James. 
David,  who  was  born  in  Pope  County,  1820,  was  the  son  of  John 
and  the  father  of  John  G.,  who  was  a  native  of  this  county,  born  1846 


466  A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


and  married  Upha  Shearer.  Their  children  were  Mary  (2),  Elizabeth 
(2),  married  Henry  Rose,  Matilda  (2)  married  Armstrong  Grissom, 
James  (2)  married  a  Miss  Harvick,  David  (2)  married  Ellen  Harper, 
John  S.  (2)  married  Peninna  Harrell,  William  (2)  married  Sidney 
Waters,  Polly  (2)  married  Joseph  Harper,  India  (2)  married  Lewis 
Lavander,  Catherine  (2)  never  married,  Margaret  (2)  married  Dr. 
McGinnis,  Adaline  (2)  never  married,  Jane  (2)  married  James  Jack- 
son; John  S.  (2)  born  1848  and  Peninna  had  Joseph  (3),  J.  J.  (3), 
(Whig),  John  (3),  Elizabeth  (3),  Fanny  (3),  India  (3),  Kate  (3), 
Grant  (3),  Sherman  (3),  Sidney  (3).  Joseph  (3)  married  Julia  Cot- 
ton, 1866,  they  had  Elizabeth  (4),  Cora  (4),  William  (4);  Elizabeth 
(4)  married  George  McCuan  and  had  Coy  (5)  and  Harry  (5) ;  J.  J. 
Whiteside  (3)  married  Missouri  Fern  and  they  had  John  (4),  Lona 
(4),  Ella  (4),  James  A.  (4),  Herman  (4).  John  (4)  married  Nora 
Sullins  and  had  John  J.  (5)  and  Peninna  (5);  Lona  (4)  married 
Caroll  Kelly  and  had  Frank  (5),  Ella  (4)  married  Frank  Mashina 
and  they  have  Freddie  (5);  James  A.  (4)  married  Nora  Verhines: 
Clyde  (5)  and  Cleo  (5);  Herman  (4)  married;  John  (3)  married 
Lucinda  Jane  Holt  (see  Chapman);  Elizabeth  (3)  married  Lowrey 
Fort  and  had  Ann  (5),  William  (5),  Winnie  (5),  Cardis  (5),  Ger- 
trude (5)  and  Reverdia  (5);  Fannie  (3)  married  Albert  Riden- 
hower    and    Orpha     (4)     who    married     Samuel    Baker    and    Grover 

(4)  married  Isma  Fort;  India  (3)  married  George  Ragains; 
Kate  (3)  married  Frank  Ragains  and  had  John  (4)  and  Peninna  (4) 
married  Frienza  Jones  and  their  children  are  Beatrice  (5)  who  mar- 
ried Looney  Robertson  and  Gladys  (5);  Grant  (3)  married  Mary  (see 
Chapman).  Sherman  (3)  married  Mary  Simpson  and  their  children 
are  John  (4),  who  married  Lula  Taylor  and  has  John  (5),  Mary  (5) 
and  Sherman   (5) ;  Frank  (4)  married  Belva  Hayden,  children  Joseph 

(5)  and  Len.  (5);  Stella  (4)  married  Mr.  Robertson  and  has  Walter 
(5);  Fred  (4)  and  Ethel  (4);  Sidney  (3)  married  Charles  Hogue. 

WHITNEL 
Josiah  Whitnel  was  born  in  Caldwell  Co.,  Ky.,  1824.  His  grand- 
father was  Josiah,  an  Irish  weaver  who  raised  three  sons  and  three 
daughters  of  whom  John  was  the  eldest.  John  Whitnel  married 
Mary  Reynolds,  daughter  of  Charles  and  Mary  (McAnally)  Ladd  of 
Scotland,  (recorded  in  a  bible  printed  in  Edinburgh  in  1756),  they 
had  five  sons  who  were  physicians.  Josiah,  received  a  good  educa- 
tion in  the  select  schools  of  his  neighborhood  and  graduated  from 
the  Medical  College  at  Louisville,  Ky.  He  was  the  first  of  his  family 
to  come  to  Illinois,  and  he  came  alone  on  horseback  and  located  as 
Reynoldsburg,  this  county  for  the  practice  of  his  profession  in  1852. 
He  was  a  prominent  character  as  citizen  and  physician,  was  appoint- 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY  467 


ed  surgeon  of  the  120th  111.  Inf.,  but  resigned  before  going  into  ser- 
vice. He  lived  on  a  farm  and  practiced  medicine  throughout  his 
life.  Only  the  early  settler  appreciates  the  vicissitudes  and  helpful- 
ness of  the  country  doctor.  He  was  a  Royal  Arch  Mayson  and  a 
Democrat.  He  married  Susan  E.  Miller,  neighbor  in  Kentucky.  They 
had  John  L.  (2),  Mary  R.  (2),  Elizabeth  (2)  and  D.  T.  (2);  John  L. 
(2)  was  a  graduate  of  the  Louisville  Medical  College  and  practiced 
with  his  lather  many  years,  was  a  fine  surgeon  as  well  as  physicion, 
and  was  the  third  generation  and  the  seventh  member  of  the  family 
following  the  medical  profession.  Mary  R.  (2)  married  N.  J.  Mozley 
(see  Worley),  D.  T.  (2)  not  married,  makes  his  home  with  Mrs 
Mozley;  Elizabeth  (2)  is  the  wife  of  C.  M.  Sullins  a  merchant  oC 
Marshall,  111.  Dr.  Josiah  Whitnel's  descendants  have  a  cane  that 
was  cut  from  the  stalk  of  a  palm  tree  Jan.  9,  1815,  at  New  Orleans, 
the  day  after  the  battle.  Dr.  Whitnel's  father  (John)  was  a  soldiei 
under  General  Jackson  during  this  engagement.  The  family  bible 
published  in  1756  is  in  the  possession  of  D.  T.  Whitnel. 

Dr.  David  T.  Whitnel  was  a  brother  of  Josiah  and  came  to  this 
county  some  time  between  1852  and  60.  He  settled  in  Vienna  and 
his  home  was  on  the  site  of  the  present  home  of  C.  M.  Pickens.  He, 
like  the  other  Whitnel  brothers  was  born,  educated  and  graduated  in 
medicine  in  Kentucky.  He  served  in  the  Civil  War  as  surgeon  in  the 
31st  111.  Vol.  Infrantry,  till  after  the  battle  of  Vicksburg  where  he  was 
attacked  by  yellow  fever,  he  returned  home  and  died  in  a  few  months. 
He  married  Permelia  Caldwell  also  of  Kentucky,  children  Ella  (2), 
Lindorf  Osborn  (2).  These  children  were  raised  in  the  home  of 
Josiah  Whitnel  after  the  mother's  death  which  occurred  in  1869. 
Ella  (2)  married  J.  W.  Heaton  of  New  Burnside,  they  have  Lindorf 
(3),  Herman  (3),  Clara  (3). 

L.  O.  Whitnel  (2)  was  born  in  this  county  in  1863.  He  attended 
the  public  schools  of  the  community,  later  a  Normal  School  at  Carmi, 
111.,  and  Central  College  at  Danville,  Ind.  He  was  employed  as  a 
clerk  in  a  store  by  David  Shearer  for  a  short  time  at  New  Burnside 
and  also  as  a  clerk  at  Goreville,  111.  He  came  to  Vienna  in  the  fall 
of  1865  and  entered  the  law  office  of  P.  T.  Chapman  and  began  the 
study  of  law.  In  1886  he  entered  a  partnership  with  Chapman  which 
firm  of  Chapman  &  Whitnel,  Attys.,  continued  four  years,  when  he 
and  G.  B.  Gillespie  formed  the  legal  firm  of  Whitnell  &  Gillespie 
spoken  of  under  Mr.  Gillespie's  Biography.  In  1904  Mr.  Whitnel 
moved  to  East  St.  Louis  forming  a  partnership  with  Hon.  W.  S.  Fore- 
man. Mr.  Foreman  died  in  1908.  Mr.  Whitnel  was  employed  as 
General  Attorney  for  the  Missouri  Pacific  R.  R.  Co.,  other  positions 
followed,  such  as  attorney  for  the  St.  Louis,  Troy  and  Eastern, 
Pennsylvania  lines,  Chicago  and  Eastern  Illinois,  the  East  St.  Louis, 


468  A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 

Columbia  and  Waterloo,  and  other  railroads.  In  addition  to  this  he 
was  General  Counsel  for  the  Consolidated  Coal  Company  of  St.  Louis, 
Mo.,  and  General  Attorney  for  the  Western  Coal  &  Mining  Company. 
After  his  son  Josiah's  return  from  France  in  1919  where  he  served 
as  Lieutenant  in  the  World  War,  he  entered  practice  with  his  father 
forming  the  firm  of  "Whitnel  &  Whitnel".  They  have  offices  in  the 
Cahokia  Bldg.,  East  St.  Louis,  111.  Mr.  Whitnell  died  in  December 
1924. 

The  strength  and  veracity  of  this  firm  is  so  well  known  thai 
comment  is  unnecessary.  Josiah  was  born  in  Johnson  County.  He 
is  a  graduate  of  the  East  St.  Louis  High  School  and  the  law  depart- 
ment of  the  University  of  Illinois.  L.  O.  Whitnel  married  Amanda 
Trammell  1888  (see  Chapman).  Dr.  Constantine  L.  Whitnel,  an- 
other of  the  four  Doctors  Whitnel  settled  in  Goreville  Township  in 
1855.  He  did  an  extensive  country  practice  throughout  his  life.  He 
erected  a  fine  country  home  for  that  time,  1861,  which  is  still  stand- 
ing, and  occupied  as  a  resident  by  Charles  Calhoun.  The  second 
story  of  this  home  was  used  by  the  Goreville  Masonic  Lodge  until 
the  hall  was  built.  Dr.  C.  L.  Whitnel  married  first  Ann  Looney  and 
their  children  were  Charles  (2),  who  followed  the  profession  of  his 
father  and  was  also  very  successful.  He  married  Ann  Cook,  both 
died  and  left  one  son,  Harry  C.  (3),  who  lives  in  Marion,  111.;  Mary 
(2)  married  Milo  Trammell,  George  (3),  their  only  child,  married 
Clara  Beauman  of  this  county  and  is  cashier  of  the  First  State  Bank 
of  Mound  City,  111.,  where  they  reside;  Flora  (2)  married  Thomas  H 
Taylor  and  had  Nora  (3),  Pearl  (3),  Ora  (3),  Holley  (3)  and  Ada  (3). 
Nora  (3)  married  E.  W.  (see  Sutton),  Pearl  (3)  is  a  business  woman 
of  Vienna,  Ora  (3)  married  Roy  Milburn  and  has  Helen  (4)  and 
Lyman  (4);  Holley  (3)  married  Oma  Casey  and  has  Virginia  (4), 
Verly  (4),  S.  Holley  (4)  and  Betty  Joe  (4);  Ada  (3)  married  William 
(see  Fern). 

Dr.  C.  L.  Whitnel  married  s(econd)  Mrs.  McNealy  and  had  Ida 
(2)  who  married  John  Gibson  and  had  Charles  (3),  Nettie  (3),  Ernest 
M.  (3),  James  H.  (3),  L.  O.  (3),  Ruth  (3),  Esther  (3),  Virgil  (3), 
married  Myrtle  Foster  and  is  the  only  one  of  the  family  beside  the 
parents  residing  in  this  county. 

Dr.  Robert,  a  fourth  brother  of  the  Whitnel's  came  to  this  county 
and  settled  in  the  West  Eden  neighborhood,  and  like  his  brothers, 
spent  his  life  in  ministering  to,  and  relieving  the  sick  and  disabled. 
He  married  Julia  Miller  and  their  children  were  Minnie  (2)  who  mar- 
ried John  Stewart  and  their  children  are  Mabel  (3),  Frank  (3)  and 
Harry  (3);  William  (2)  married  Agusta  Fisher,  and  their  children 
are  Edna  (3),  Clarence   (3),  Wayne   (3)   and  Julia   (3);   Gertrude   (2) 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY         469 

married  Harry  Gallway  and  has  one  son,  Otis  Whitnel  (3);  Brit- 
tiana  (2)  married  Marshall  Cantrell  and  has  Carl  (3).  All  of  Dr. 
Whitnel's  family  have  removed  from  the  county  except  his  son,  Wil- 
liam. 

WOELFLE 
F.  R.  Woelfle  is  not  a  native  of  Johnson  County  but  is  connected 
by  marriage  with  two  of  our  pioneer  families.  He  is  the  son  of  Dr. 
John  M.,  who  was  born  in  Germany,  and  Anna  (Clark)  Woelfle  a  na- 
tive of  Canada.  They  came  to  Southern  Illinois  in  1859.  Rodman 
came  with  his  widowed  mother  to  Vienna  when  a  school  boy,  and  was 
first  employed  in  the  mill  of  J.  B.  Kuykendall.  He  later  bought  a 
mill  in  Canton,  Mo.,  which  he  operated  for  several  years,  but  returned 
to  Vienna  and  took  up  the  business  of  banking  in  1903.  He  married 
first  Carrie  Kuykendall  (see  Simpson).  They  had  one  son,  J.  R.,  who 
is  a  resident  of  Vienna.  F.  R.  Woelfle  married  second  Louise  Rebman 
They  are  residents  of  Vienna,  members  of  the  Eastern  Star,  M.  E. 
Church,  and  the  Republican  party.  He  is  a  Mason  and  one  of  the 
progressive  citizens  of  the  county,  being  interested  and  active  in 
everything  that  makes  for  the  public  good  and  adds  to  the  welfare 
of  the  community.  His  son  J.  R.  is  assistant  cashier  of  the  Drovers 
State  Bank  and  while  young  bids  fair  to  be  a  leading  citizen. 

WORLEY 
Worley — taken  from  Kaskaskia  records — "John  Worley  heir  of 
Samuel  Worley  granted  one  hundred  acres  of  land,  1791  for  militia 
duty".  John  and  Joseph  Worley  are  given  as  residents  of  Illinois  in 
Kaskaskia  records  in  1785.  J.  M.  Peck  says  Joseph  Worley  was  a 
soldier  under  General  Clark  on  his  Illinois  Campaign  and  came  with 
his  family  to  the  territory  in  1785,  from  near  Wheeling,  West  Vir- 
ginia. Whether  John  was  the  father  of  Joseph,  if  they  were  brothers 
or  if  either  was  the  founder  of  the  Worley  family  of  this  county  is 
left  to  tradition  or  surmise.  The  following  data  was  copied  from  a 
family  record  entered  in  a  bible  published  1844,  and  can  be  relied  on, 
yet  it  need  not  be  forgotten  that  John  Worley  may  have  been  born 
in  North  Carolina  and  came  to  this  state  from  West  Virginia.  John 
Worley  born  in  North  Carolina,  1726,  married  Nancy,  and  had  Isaac 
(2)  born  1786,  died  1862,  married  Margaret  Crow  who  was  born  1792 
and  died  1835.  They  had  George  H.  (3),  Born  1813,  Hiram  (3),  born 
1814,  Grandison  (3)  born  1817,  Eliza  (3),  born  1819,  Lucinda  (3),  born 
1821,  Clarisa  (3),  born  1826,  Francis  M.  (3),  born  1831,  Mary  (3), 
born  1833.  Only  four  of  these  children  had  families,  George  H.  (3) 
married  Grace  Harper,  and  they  had  Hiram  (4),  who  married  Louisa 
Elkins,  they  had  George  (5)  and  Vernila  (5);  Hiram  (3)  married 
Vernila  Graves,   born   1816,   and    they   had   Margaret    (4),   born    1839, 


470         A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


George  H.  (4),  born  1840,  Mary  J.  (4),  born  1842,  Sarah  Catherina  (4) 
born  1848,  Thomas  Jackson  (4),  born  1860.  Margaret  (4)  married 
John  Mozley,  and  they  had  Norman  J.  (5),  Charles  (5).  Norman  J. 
(5)  married  Mary  Whitnel,  they  had  Ladd  (6),  Mary  E.  (6).  Ladd  (6) 
married  Margaret  Hooker  and  they  have  Margaret  (7)  and  Norman 
G.  (7);  Mary  Elizabeth  (6)  married  Edward  Simpson  and  their  chil- 
dren are  Melba  (7),  Elizabeth  (7)  and  Norma  Joe  (7);  Charles  (5) 
married  Ella  Phillips  and  they  have  Hal  (6),  Loren  (6),  Joseph  (6), 
Charles  (6).  This  family  lives  in  Albuquerque,  New  Mexico;  George 
H.  (4)  married  Drucilla  Damron  and  had  two  children.  He  married 
second  Sarah  Stubblefield  and  they  had  Vernilla  (5),  Sidney  (5), 
Adolphus  (5),  none  of  whom  reside  in  the  county;  Mary  J.  (4)  mar- 
ried Thomas  J.  Cowan,  and  their  children  are  Martha  A.  (5),  born 
1861,  David  J.  (5),  born  1865,  Thomas  J.  (5),  born  1869,  Gertrude 
(5),  born  1877,  John  O.  (5),  born  1880.  Martha  A.  (5)  married  Wil- 
liam Nobles  and  has  Dr.  Charles  D.  (6),  who  has  resided  in  Bun 
combe  and  practiced  medicine  in  this  county  several  years.  He  is  a 
graduate  of  the  School  of  Physicians  and  Surgeons,  of  St.  Louis,  Mo., 
and  has  recently  been  appointed  assistant  physician  at  the  Southern 
Illinois  Hospital,  for  the  Insane  at  Anna,  where  he  and  family  reside. 
They  are  greatly  missed  from  their  home  county  both  socially  and 
professionally.  He  married  Hattie  Melvin  and  has  Arthur  (7);  David 
J.  (5)  married  Sarah  (Duncan)  Poor;  Thomas  J.  (5)  married  Nora 
Farris  and  they  have  Mary  (6)  who  married  Olin  R.  Kerley  (see 
Kerley) ;  and  Ruth  (6),  Gertrude  (5),  married  Jefferson  Gore  and 
has  Mary  (6),  Maud  (6)  Norman  (6)  and  Margaret  (6);  John  O.  (5) 
resides  with  his  mother  at  the  county  seat;  Catherine  (4)  married 
Wesley  Mathis,  and  had  Thomas  (5),  Melissa  (5),  Martin  (5);  Thomas 
Jackson  (4),  married  Cordia  Whiteaker  and  had  Luela  (5),  Thomas 
(5),  Ellis  (5).  Eliza  Worley  (3)  married  William  Jones  and  had  Bruce 
(4),  Jasper  (4),  Eliza  (4),  Polk  (4);  Lucinda  (3)  married  Thomas 
Findley  and  had  Joseph  (4),  Eliza  (4),  Hiram  (4),  Charles  (4), 
Amanda  (4).     This  family  lies  in  in  Union  County. 

WOMACK 
John  Wesley  Womack  is  supposed  to  have  been  a  native  oL 
Tennessee  but  came  here  from  Hardin  County  before  the  Civil  War. 
His  wife's  name  was  Elizabeth  Hogan,  she  was  a  native  of  Gallatin 
County.  They  had  Abraham  (2),  John  (2),  Sarah  (2),  Austin  (2), 
Mary  (2).  Abraham  (2)  married  Ann  Jones.  They  had  Margaret  (3) 
who  married  William  Murrie;  Wesley  (3)  married  Amanda  Murray; 
Eliza  (3)  married  Robert  Thornsberry,  she  had  Myrtle  (4)  and  othei 
children.  They  removed  from  the  county.  Sarah  (2)  married  Joseph 
Clymore,  they  had  Dora  (3)  who  married  Luther  Anderson;  they  had 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY        471 

Luther  Edward  (4);  Austin  B.  (2)  married  Mary  A.  McKee,  they  had 
Mary  A.  (3)  not  married,  and  Daisy  (3)  who  married  Ned  Sharp; 
Mary  (2)  married  James  Lasley;  their  children  were  Wililam  (3) 
who  married  Lula  Wickham;  Elizabeth  (3)  married  Fred  Gray; 
Eliza  (3)  married  Frank  Wortman;  James  (3)  married  in  the  West. 
John  (2)  married  Julia  Reynolds,  the  children  were  Elizabeth  (3)  who 
married  Edward  Mace,  Richard  (3),  Mary  (3),  Joel  (3),  Amanda  (3), 
William  W.  (3),  Frank  (3)  married  Olive  Upchurch;  Phoebe  (3), 
Austin  (3),  Elmer  (3),  Francis  (3). 

WORRELL 

F.  E.  Worrell,  our  present  County  Superintendent  of  Schools,  is 
a  descendant  of  one  of  the  early  teachers  of  this  county,  Branum 
Worrell.  This  family  came  from  North  Carolina  and  Branum  set- 
tled in  the  southwest  section  where  he  married  Miss  Wilhelm  and 
they  had  Jasper  (2),  Newton  (2),  who  was  killed  at  Shilo,  and  an- 
other son  who  died  soon  after  the  war  from  the  results  of  service  in 
the  war— F.  M.  (2)  removed  to  Texas;  S.  A.  D.  (2);  Theodosia  (2); 
Sarah  (2).  Sarah  (2)  married  Lee  Henry,  her  children  are  Mrs.  Dolph 
Lavander,  Harper  Henry  and  Mrs.  Robert  Greer;  S.  A.  D.  (2)  had 
one  daughter  by  his  first  marriage;  he  married  second  Ellen  Lokey 
and  has  James  (3),  Fred  (3),  Grace  (3),  Doris  (3).  Jasper  (2)  mar 
ried  first  Margaret  Wise.  Only  two  children  of  this  family  living. 
Mrs.  Nancy  Parish  and  Mrs.  Emma  Finley.  He  married  second 
Clementine  Graves,  a  sister  of  Dr.  Graves  of  Goreville,  and  she  had 
F.  E.  (3)  and  Guy  (3).  Guy  (3)  married  Agnes  Birch.  F.  E.  re- 
ceived his  primary  education  in  the  public  schools  and  has  a  degree 
from  the  Southern  Illinois  Normal  University.  He  is  a  young  man, 
has  taught  eleven  years  and  has  devoted  most  of  his  life  to  educa- 
tional work.  He  was  elected  to  his  present  office  as  a  Democrat  in 
1922,  and  is  very  efficient  in  his  official  capacity.  He  married  Esther 
McCormick.  They  are  members  of  the  M.  E.  Church,  Eastern  Star, 
and  residents  of  Vienna  where  they  add  much  to  the  social  and  moral 
influence  of  the  community. 

WRIGHT 

Reverend  Abraham  Wright  was  born  in  New  York  June  21,  1818, 
was  raised  in  Indiana  and  Ohio.  He  said  he  was  called  to  preach  at 
the  age  of  ten  years  but  resisted  the  call  until  1835,  when  he  was  li- 
censed to  preach  in  Kentucky.  He  was  a  minister  for  sixty-five  years, 
and  gives  as  a  summary  of  his  life  work  that  he  preached  to  one 
million  people,  visited  five  hundred  thousand,  traveled  two  hundred 
thousand  miles;  a  great  deal  of  which  was  done  before  the  days  of 
railroads,  preached  ten  thousand  sermons  and  witnessed  the  conver- 
sion of  at  least  twenty  thousand  people,  and  as  he  said  "Helping  just 


472         A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


a  little".  He  came  to  Vienna  in  1867,  edited  the  "Vienna  Artery" 
several  years  and  was  postmaster  under  Grant.  He  not  only  followed 
journalism  but  preached  in  different  sections  in  the  county,  in  fact 
in  every  place  where  there  was  a  church  or  need  of  the  Gospel.  He 
had  a  young  daughter,  Emma,  who  understood  music,  and  he  also  pos- 
sessed a  small  melodeon  which  could  easily  be  taken  down  and 
set  up.  It  was  his  practice  on  Sundays  to  take  his  daughter  and  the 
melodeon  in  his  buggy  and  hie  away  to  his  appointment.  The  instru- 
mental music  was  a  novely  to  the  people  of  the  country,  and  proved 
a  great  attraction  for  his  services.  He  was  a  good  singer  himself 
and  no  doubt  much  and  lasting  good  was  done  through  the  music, 
and  his  presentation  of  the  Gospel  message.  Mr.  Wright  lived  to  be 
almost  ninety  years  old  and  died  in  Florida.  He  was  an  exemplary 
Christian,  strong  prohibitionist,  and  left  his  impress  on  the  world. 
His  children  were  Wilson,  Emma  R.,  John,  Mattie,  William,  and  Ollie 
Three  of  his  sons  were  M.  E.  ministers.  John  W.  Wright  became 
very  prominent  as  such  in  the  Iowa  Conference.  Emma  R.  married 
M.  A.  Smith,  resides  in  Jacksonville,  Fla.  Mattie  married  Mr.  Coats 
and  resides  at  Licking,  Mo.     The  sons  are  dead. 

YANDELL 
M.  J.  Yandell  came  here  from  Kentucky  and  married  Lucinda  E 
VanCleve,  and  settled  on  a  farm  in  the  Ozark  Neighborhood.  He  was 
nineteen  years  old  and  she  was  fifteen.  They  raised  nine  children, 
namely  Mrs.  L.  L.  Smoot,  Lewis  P.,  Mrs.  W.  G.  Lambert,  Mrs.  H.  A. 
Dunn,  Maddison,  Mrs.  C.  M.  Jacobson,  Edgar,  Bessie,  and  Grace.  Mr. 
Yandell  died  several  years  ago  and  most  of  the  family  have  left  the 
county. 

CHOAT 

The  Choat  family  who  were  Irish  is  a  large  one  and  they  were 
very  early  settlers  here  but  it  seems  impossible  to  get  any  lineage 
from  the  ones  now  living,  from  the  best  information  they  must  have 
come  here  early  in  the  nineteenth  century.  The  following  is  from  a 
granddaughter  of  Nicholas  Choat.  She  says  he  came  from  Kentucky 
and  was  a  distiller  having  a  large  fruit  orchard  there  from  which  he 
made  brandy  and  other  drinks.  He  came  to  Illinois,  selected  a  farm 
a  short  distance  east  from  what  is  now  Tunnel  Hill  and  a  part  of  the 
J.  P.  Woodside  place,  returned  to  Kentucky  and  brought  fruit  trees, 
planted  them  and  in  time  began  the  manufacture  of  spirits  again.  His 
home  was  on  the  old  Ft.  Massac  and  Kaskaskia  trace  and  he  sold  his 
wares  to  travelers.  He  had  five  sons  and  three  daughters.  Ezekiel 
Choat  was  one.  He  also  lived  in  the  neighborhood  of  Ozark.  William 
Harper  lived  on   the   Ezekiel   Choat  place  in   1921.     Nicholas  Choat's 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY        473 


wife  was  Nancy  Smith  and  they  were  married  in  Kentucky.  His  son, 
Ezekiel,  married  Margaret  McFatridge,  daughter  to  William  (1). 
They  raised  a  large  family  to  be  grown  and  have  families  but  Absolem 
is  the  only  one  whose  name  was  secured.  He  married  Lucinda  Col- 
breth  and  reared  a  family  of  five  boys  and  three  girls  each  of  whom 
had  large  families.  It  is  supposed  Sabert  and  Squire  Choat  were 
brothers  to  Ezekiel.  It  is  thought  the  family  came  here  as  early  as 
1808.  Squire  Choat  married  Polly  Casey  (see  Casey)  and  lived  at 
Casey  Springs  in  1825.  He  lived  in  this  county  as  early  as  1815.  He 
had  a  son  born  there  in  1818,  J.  P.,  who  was  the  father  of  J.  M. 
Choat.  Sabert  Choat  married  a  Harvick,  daughter  to  Jacob.  Squire 
Choat  moved  to  Massac  County  and  raised  his  family  there.  It  is 
thought  that  Sabert  Choat  lived  in  Massac  also.  Isaac  Choat  of 
Massac  County  has  a  biography  in  the  "Biographical  Record"  publish- 
ed in  1893.  The  names  given  of  his  family  are  the  same  as  those  in 
the  other  Choat  families  and  it  is  possible  that  he  is  a  descendent  of 
another  son  of  Nicholas  Choat.  Greenbury  Choat  was  a  revolutionary 
soldier  and  is  buried  in  this  or  Saline  County.  He  no  doubt  was  con- 
nected with  this  family  possibly  father  to  Nicholas  as  Green  is  a 
favorite  name  in  the  Choat  family.  Ezekiel  was  rather  prominent  in 
the  affairs  of  the  county  in  its  early  settlement.  Absolem  Choat  said 
Squire  Choat  was  a  son  of  Green  (Greenbury)  Choat.  Nicholas  and 
Greenbury  may  have  been  brothers.  Tradition  says  Polly  (Casey) 
Choat  was  a  woman  of  unusual  intellect  and  sterling  character.  A 
daughter  of  Absolem  Choat  says  she  was  a  woman  of  fame  for  her 
day.  Her  character  as  a  pioneer  wife  and  mother  has  left  its  impress 
on  the  generations  following  as  she  passed  on  many  years  ago,  yet 
her  influence  and  example  still  lives. 

HESS 
Col.  Samuel  Hess  was  born  in  Union  County  1823.  He  was 
reared  in  his  native  county  and  early  learned  the  tailor's  trade  which 
he  followed  several  years  opening  a  shop  in  Marion  for  a  short  time. 
He  came  to  Vienna  in  1844  and  established  a  business.  In  1846  he 
enlisted  in  Captain  Hacker's  company  for  the  Mexican  War.  He  par- 
ticipated in  the  battle  of  Buena  Vista  and  other  minor  engagements. 
At  the  expiration  of  his  enlistment  he  returned  to  Vienna  and  in 
1849  went  overland  to  California  as  a  "forty  niner"  making  the  entire 
journey  with  horses.  At  that  time  there  were  no  white  settlements 
west  of  the  Missouri  river  except  the  Mormans  at  Salt  Lake,  Utah. 
He  followed  mining  there  for  about  a  year  and  returned  home  by  way 
of  the  Isthmus  of  Panama.  Soon  after  his  return  he  engaged  in  the 
mercantile  business  with  S.  J.  Chapman  and  D.  Y.  Bridges  being  thus 
engaged  when  the  Civil  War  broke  out.     He  assisted  in   raising  the 


474         A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 

sixteenth  Illinois  Infantry  of  which  he  was  commissioned  Major.  He 
was  later  promoted  to  Lieutenant-Colonel.  He  resigned  in  1863.  He 
continued  the  mercantile  business  also  engaging  in  the  lumber  busi- 
ness and  the  later  years  of  his  life  were  devoted  to  farming.  He  was 
very  successful  in  business  for  a  time  and  built  the  largest  and  most 
imposing  home  in  the  town  and  furnished  it  accordingly.  He  owned 
a  large  tract  of  land  on  the  west  side  of  sixth  street  and  two  or  more 
Hess  editions  have  been  made  to  the  town.  Col.  Hess  was  a  tall  and 
well  proportioned  man,  a  splendid  horseman  and  in  the  good  old  days 
of  "parades"  he  made  a  fine  picture  as  marshal  of  the  day  with  his 
red  sash  and  mounted  on  his  gray  horse.  He  married  Usurla  (see 
Chapman). 

HUNSAKER 
The  founders  of  the  Hunsaker  family  of  this  section  of  Illinois 
were  Abraham  and  Jane  (Snyder)  Hunsaker.  They  were  so  far  as 
is  known  natives  of  Pennsylvania  and  came  from  that  state  in  1812, 
settling  in  that  part  of  Johnson  that  later  made  Union  County.  This 
name  appears  frequently  on  our  early  court  records  especially  George 
Hunsaker.  Nicholas,  their  son,  married  Olive  Montgomery,  a  native 
of  Virginia.  They  were  the  parents  of  Mortimer  who  was  born  in 
Union  County  in  1834  and  came  to  Elvira  Township,  this  County  1870. 
He  was  a  successful  farmer  of  his  time  and  a  Justice  of  the  Peace  for 
many  years.  He  married  Mary  Stearns.  Their  children  were 
Augustus,  Charles  and  Jennie,  who  married  Dr.  W.  G.  White.  Charles 
is  a  farmer  of  this  county.  F.  M.  Hunsaker  is  a  nephew  of  Mortimer 
and  also  a  native  of  Union  County.  He  is  one  of  the  substantial 
farmers  of  Elvira  Township.  He  married  Seva  Drake.  Their  chil- 
dren were  Berthyl,  Holly  and  Clyde.  They  live  on  the  Drake  farm 
located  on  the  Vienna  and  Goreville  road. 

MARSHALL 
Charles  Marshall,  a  farmer  and  stock  raiser  of  Belknap,  is  a  na- 
tive of  Kentucky.  He  is  a  member  of  a  distinguished  southern  fam- 
ily, Charles  the  original  ancestor,  coming  here  from  England  in 
colonial  times  and  settling  in  Virginia.  He  was  a  brother  of  Chief 
Justice  Marshall  and  served  in  the  war  of  Independence  from  Vir- 
ginia. Martin  P.  Marshall,  son  of  Charles,  was  born  in  Virginia  but 
emigrated  to  Kentucky  in  pioneer  days  and  became  speaker  of  the 
House  of  Representatives  of  Kentucky  and  cast  the  deciding  vote 
which  kept  the  state  of  Kentucky  in  the  Union.  Martin  P.  married 
u  first  cousin,  Elizabeth  Marshall,  also  of  Kentucky.  R.  M.  Marshall 
was  the  son  of  this  union.  Martin  P.  practiced  law  in  Rock  Island, 
Illinois,  for  some  time  but  returned  to  his  native  state  residing  there 
the  remainder  of  his  life.     He  married  a  daughter  of  Willis  Forman 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY         475 


of  that  state  whose  father,  Joseph  Forman  was  also  a  resident  of 
Kentucky.  In  1824  he  with  several  of  his  neighbors  made  a  trip  to 
New  Orleans  on  a  flat  boat  to  market  their  produce.  They  landed 
at  Shawneetown  on  their  return  trip  and  entered  a  section  of  land 
each.  Charles,  our  subject  is  a  son  of  R.  M.  and  was  reared  in 
Kentucky.  He  graduated  from  the  University  of  Lebanon,  Ohio,  in 
the  early  eighties  and  1884  came  to  Belknap,  his  maternal  grand- 
father having  given  him  a  hundred  acres  of  wooded  land  in  that  sec- 
tion to  which  he  has  added  to  and  improved  till  he  now  has,  as  has 
been  stated,  probably  the  largest  body  of  land  in  the  county.  Be- 
sides his  farming  interests  he  is  a  director  in  the  First  National 
Bank  of  Vienna  and  has  been  instrumental  in  securing  the  drainage 
systems  of  the  Cache  basin.  He  and  family  are  members  of  the  M. 
E.  Church.  He  married  first  Effie,  daughter  of  Marion  Williams  of 
Kelknap.  She  died  in  1893.  They  had  one  daughter,  Elizabeth  F. 
who  married  C.  O.  Judson  and  resides  in  Kansas  City,  Missouri. 
They  have  one  child.  Robert  M.  married  May  Stephens  of  this  coun 
ty.  He  graduated  from  a  dental  college  in  1923  and  resides  in  SI. 
Louis,  Missouri.  Mr.  Marshall  married  second  Clara,  daughter  of 
George  and  Martha  (Copeland)  Evers.  They  have  one  son,  William 
P.,  who  is  a  graduate  of  Vienna  High  School  and  of  University  of  Il- 
linois and  is  a  federal  land  bank  agent,  with  headquarters  in  St. 
Louis.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Marshall  reside  on  their  farm  a  short  distance 
from  Belknap. 

MARTIN 
Dr.  O.  P.  Martin,  whose  family  is  given  under  West,  passed  on  in 
1924.  He  practiced  medicine  in  West  Eden  community  and  Belknap 
for  fifty  five  years.  He  was  loved  by  all  who  knew  him  and  was 
never  known  to  refuse  a  call  if  he  was  able  to  go.  He  was  a  true 
type  of  the  country  doctor  that  is  fast  passing.  He  studied  medicine 
under  Dr.  Robert  Whitnell,  one  of  the  four  doctor  Whitnells  who 
came  to  this  county  from  Kentucky  before  the  Civil  War.  He  later 
graduated  from  the  American  Medical  College  of  St.  Louis,  Mo.  He 
was  a  Mason,  Odd  Fellow  and  a  liberal  supporter  of  the  M.  E.  church. 

McKENZIE 
Dr.  A.  E.  McKenzie  has  practiced  dentistry  in  this  county  for 
thirty  years.  He  is  a  graduate  of  The  Chicago  College  of  Dental  Sur- 
gery and  is  a  son  of  Dr.  P.  S.  and  Mary  J.  (Smith)  McKenzie,  the 
former  being  a  native  of  Edinburgh,  Scotland.  Dr.  McKenzie,  the 
elder,  was  a  resident  of  Vienna  for  several  years.  A.  E.  is  a  native 
of  Illinois  but  not  of  this  county.  He  opened  an  office  in  Vienna  in 
3  893  and  has  practiced  here  continuously  since.  He  married  Alice 
Cook,  a  native  of  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  and  a  teacher  of  music  here   for 


476  A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


several  terms.  Their  children  are  Harold,  Mary,  Herbert,  Donald, 
George,  Martha,  Myra,  May  and  Elmer.  Harold  married  Goldie  Smith 
They  have  one  son,  Charles  Jackson. 

MURRIE 
Thomas  Murrie  came  to  this  county  from  Virginia  about  1843 
and  settled  near  a  spring  on  the  farm  now  owned  by  Charles  W. 
Murrie  in  the  east  side  of  the  county.  He  married  Margaret  Redden. 
They  had  ten  children,  William  (2),  Thomas  (2),  Jackson  (2),  John 
(2),  Charles  (2),  Stanford" (2),  Monroe  (2),  Elizabeth  (2),  Mary  (2). 
William  (2)  married  Rachael  De  Poister.  Thomas  (2)  married  Sarah 
Pangrum.  Jackson  (2)  married  Nancy  Neely.  John  Murrie  (2)  mar- 
ried Sarah  Neely.  Monroe  (2)  married  Emily  West.  Elizabeth  Mur 
rie  (2)  married  William  Mount.  Mary  Murrie  (2)  married  John 
Thomas.  Margaret  (2)  married  John  Pangrum.  William  (2)  and 
Rachael  had  children,  Mary  (3),  Polly  (3),  Ann  (3),  Henry  (3),  Wil- 
liam (3)  and  Jackson  (3).  Polly  (3)  married  James  Ross.  Mary  (3) 
married  Lath  Robertson.  Henry  (3)  married  Martha  Reed.  William 
(3)  married  Margaret  McFatridge.  Jackson  (3)  married  Emma  Noi- 
ris.  Thomas  (2)  and  Sarah  had  children,  Mary  (3),  Jane  (3),  Mar- 
garet (3),  Iown  (3),  Annie  (3),  William  (3),  John  (3),  James  (3), 
Thomas  (3).  Mary  (3)  married  Dock  Bowman.  Jane  (3)  married 
Green  Lasley.  Margaret  no  history.  Iown  (3)  married  Allen  Reed. 
Annie  (3)  married  Charles  Hill.  William  (3)  married  Margaret  Wor- 
mack.  John  (3)  married  Ollie  Brinkley.  James  (3)  married  Amanda 
Ford.  Jackson  (2)  and  Nancy  had  children,  John  J.  (3),  Charles  M. 
(3),  Thomas  B.  (3),  Nancy  J.  (3).  Jackson  (2)  married  second  Mil- 
dred Gray.  They  had  children  Otto  (3),  Oscar  (3).  John  J.  (3)  mar- 
ried Belle  Bowman.  Charles  M.  (3)  married  Anne  Simpson.  Thomas 
B.  (3)  married  Alice  Keltner.  Otto  (3)  married  Lou  Cline.  Oscar 
(3)  married  Willis  Smith.  John  (2)  and  Sarah  had  children,  Thomas 
(3),  Sarah  Ann  (3).  Thomas  (3)  married  Lucinda  Debman.  Mar- 
garet (3)  married  John  M.  Farr.  Monroe  (2)  and  Emily  had  children, 
Ida  (3),  Chas.  W.  (3),  Fred  (3),  Fleety  (3),  Newton  (3),  Harry  (3), 
Walter  (3).  Ida  (3)  married  Robert  Lay.  Chas.  W.  (3)  married  Ollie 
J.  Pettiford.  Newton  (3)  married  Julia  Kerley.  Harry  (3)  married 
Jennie  Grissom.  Walter  (3)  married  Annie  Dunn.  Elizabeth  (2)  and 
William  Mount  had  children,  Nancy  (3),  Thomas  B.  (3),  Sidney  B. 
(3).  Nancy  (3)  married  Joseph  McFatridge,  had  children,  Bertha 
(4),  Walter  (4),  Ora  (4).  Thomas  B.  (3)  married  Belle  Pickens.  Sid- 
ney B.  (3)  married  Charles  Pankey.  Mary  (2)  and  John  Thomas  had 
children.  Jane  (3)  married  Pete  Howell.  Allen  (3)  married  Matt 
Howell.  Mary  Ann  (3)  married  James  Miller.  Samuel  (3)  never 
married.     James    (3)    married    Cora    Howell.     Margaret    (3)    married 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY  477 

Thomas  Rentfro.  Abbie  (3)  married  Frank  Simpson.  Monroe  (3) 
married  Belle  Simpson.  Margaret  (2)  and  John  Pangburn  had  Jack- 
son Pangburn  (3),  John  J.  (3)  and  Isabel  had  children  William  J.  (4), 
Charles  (4),  Effert  (4),  John  (4),  Daisy  (4),  Fred  (4),  Edward  (4), 
Ritha  (4).  William  J.  Murrie  (4)  married  Barbara  Ellen,  daughter 
of  Thomas  and  Minerva  (Smith)  Farris  of  this  county,  children  Cali 
(5). 

ROSE 
Pleasant  W.  Rose,  who  was  head  of  the  Rose  family  of  this  coun- 
ty, was  born  in  Hardin  County  in  1812  and  was  reared  in  Pope  Coun 
ty.  He  married  Mary  Ann  Ellis  whose  parents  emigrated  to  Illinois 
from  North  Carolina  and  settled  in  Grantsburg  Township,  Johnson 
County  1834,  on  the  farm  now  owned  and  occupied  by  P.  W.  Rose, 
his  son.  Their  children  were  Mary  E.  (2)  who  married  D.  C.  Chap- 
man. James  E.  (2)  married  Mary  (see  Bain).  He  was  a  farmer  and 
served  as  Lieutenant  in  the  Civil  War.  Sidney  A.  (2)  married  James 
W.  Damron.  She  resides  at  Fredricktown,  Mo.  Mariah  (2)  who  first 
married  John  Jones  (see  Simpson)  second  George  Shelton.  One 
child  was  born,  Ada,  who  resides  near  Puxico,  Mo.  Pleasant  W. 
Rose  is  the  youngest  and  has  made  a  decided  success  of  farming.  He 
married  Mary  Farris.  They  still  reside  at  this  pleasant  old  home. 
Their  children  are  Arista  A.  (3),  wife  of  W.  C.  Graves  of  Ft.  Collins, 
Colorado.  They  have  one  son,  Charles.  Mary  (3)  married  Dr.  W. 
H.  (see  Walker).  Lillie  (3)  married  Isaac  Morgan.  They  have  one 
daughter,  Emma,  who  married  a  Mr.  Ellis  and  this  family  resides  in 
Metropolis,  Illinois.  Sidney  (3)  married  Charles  Deans  and  resides 
on  a  farm  in  an  attractive  bungalow  on  the  Vienna  and  Grantsburg 
road. 

Dr.  Pleasant  W.  Rose  is  the  third  in  line  of  that  name  and  the 
only  son  of  P.  W.  Rose,  the  second.  He  was  born  on  the  old  home- 
stead in  1877  and  received  his  early  education  in  the  district  school 
of  the  community,  later  attending  Vienna  High  School.  He  entered 
Barnes  Medical  College  of  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  in  1896  and  graduated  from 
this  institution  in  1899  and  began  the  practice  of  medicine  at  Grants- 
burg. The  following  year  he  removed  to  Simpson,  Illinois,  remain- 
ing in  active  practice  there  five  years.  He  later  removed  to  Cypress 
where  he  has  resided  until  the  present  except  a  year  or  more  he  serv- 
ed as  assistant  physician  at  the  Southern  Illinois  Hospital  at  Anna. 
He  has  a  large  and  lucrative  practice.  Dr.  Rose  is  a  Mason,  a  mem- 
ber of  the  local  and  American  Medical  Associations.  He  was  married 
first  to  Mrs.  Nancy  (Ellis)  Mount  who  had  two  sons,  J.  Lee  and 
Wayne  Mount.     He  married  second  Nellie  McKee. 


478  A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 

RUSSELL 
The  Russell  family  was  a  prominent  name  in  our  primitive  his- 
tory.    Abraham  Russell  entered  land  1819.     It  is  now  owned  by  R.  F. 
Haden  and  Thacker  and  Dundas,  and  lies  on  the  Goreville  road  about 
two  miles  north  of  Vienna. 

SMITH 

Jason  B.  Smith  was  a  native  of  South  Carolina  and  was  born 
in  1805.  His  father  Hiram  was  a  farmer  of  South  Carolina.  His 
widow,  with  her  children,  removed  to  Kentucky  about  1820.  Jason 
B.  was  converted  at  an  early  age  and  entered  the  ministry  of  the 
M.  E.  church  at  the  age  of  twenty  three  and  was  for  many  years  an 
itinerant  preacher.  He  married  Matilda  C.  Franklin  in  Kentucky 
about  1827  and  they  came  to  Pope  County,  Illinois,  to  make  their 
home.  Mr.  Smith  had  also  learned  blacksmithing  and  opened  a  shop 
at  Golconda.  While  a  resident  of  Pope  County  he  enlisted  in  the 
Black  Hawk  War  serving  as  Corporal  under  Captain  Obediah  West. 
Soon  after  his  return  from  the  war  he  moved  to  the  southeastern  part 
of  Johnson  County  where  he  entered  land  and  built  a  home.  Being 
a  progressive  man,  he  was  not  satisfied  with  just  a  home  and  soon 
after  burned  the  brick  and  erected  a  brick  dwelling  which  was  for 
many  years  probably  the  only  brick  residence  in  the  county.  When 
the  Civil  War  broke  out,  he  enlisted  and  was  soon  made  Lieutenant 
of  Company  K.,  First  Illinois  Light  Artillery  and  within  six  months 
he  was  promoted  to  Captain. 

At  the  close  of  his  services,  he  returned  to  his  farm  and  black- 
smith trade  which  he  had  followed  with  his  farming.  With  all  his 
other  duties  he  preached  frequently  and  continued  his  devotion  to  his 
church  as  long  as  he  lived.  He  was  the  founder  of  the  Benton  M.  E. 
church  and  though  he  has  gone  on  many  years  ago  his  memory  and 
influence  still  remain  and  has  reached  out  through  his  grandsons  and 
touched  many  communities.  His  children  were  Thomas  H.  who  was 
killed  in  the  Civil  War  leaving  a  wife  and  two  children;  Elizabeth 
married  Daniel  Cummins;  James  A.  resided  in  Burnside  many  years 
but  finally  removed  to  Arkansas;  John  W.  was  a  business  man  of 
Fordyce,  Ark.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Regulators  who  were  tho 
better  element  of  citizens  who  banded  themselves  together  to  rid 
their  neighborhood  of  the  "Flat  Heads",  a  lawless  band  that  followed 
horse  stealing  and  other  wickedness  in  the  eastern  section  of  the 
county  and  the  adjoining  parts  of  Massac.  He  also  served  as  county 
judge  of  this  county.  Jefferson  Wormack  lived  on  the  Jason  B.  Smitli 
place  in  1924. 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY  479 


TAYLOR 
Thomas  H.  Taylor,  a  resident  and  Justice  of  the  Peace  of  Tunnel 
Hill,  has  been  a  teacher  of  this  county  since  early  manhood.  He 
came  here  when  a  youth  about  the  time  of  the  beginning  of  the  Civil 
War  and  resided  in  Goreville  Township  many  years  living  on  the  Dr 
Tiiic  Whitnell  old  place  and  farming  through  the  summer  months. 
He  has  been  assistant  in  the  county  offices  many  times  and  is  known 
as  a  man  of  influence  in  his  community.  He  married  Flora,  daugh- 
ter of  Dr.  C.  T.  Whitnell.  Their  children  are  Pearl,  a  business  wom- 
an of  Vienna;  Adah,  wife  of  W.  Fenn  who  has  a  mercantile  business 
in  Creal  Springs.  They  have  two  children,  William  a  student  of 
Pharmacy  in  St.  Louis;  Loucile,  a  teacher  of  this  county.  Ora  who 
married  Ray  Milburn  and  is  a  teacher  of  Saline  County.  They  have 
one  daughter  and  reside  in  Harrisburg,  Illinois.  Holly  is  a  business 
man  of  Tunnel  Hill.  He  married  Oma  Casey.  They  have  a  residence 
in  Vienna  where  they  live  during  the  school  term.  Their  children 
are  Roy,  Oma,  Virginia,  Verla,  F.  H.  Jr.,  and  Betty  Joe. 

WHITEHEAD 
James  was  born  in  Mississippi  in  1820  and  married  Minerva 
Payne.  They  came  to  the  county  in  1852.  The  father  of  James 
was  Mathew,  born  in  1735  in  Maryland  or  South  Carolina.  The  fath- 
er of  Mathew  was  also  James,  a  farmer  born  in  Maryland  or  South 
Carolina,  whose  wife  was  a  Miss  Melton.  He  was  a  planter  and  also 
a  Methodist  minister.  Their  children  were  Mathew,  Mary,  John, 
Sophia.  Mathew  married  Anna,  a  daughter  of  Hezekiah  Walker,  a 
native  of  Maryland.  They  moved  to  Mississippi  about  1815  and  began 
lift  on  a  farm,  there  James  the  head  of  the  Johnson  County  White- 
heads, was  born.  He  married  at  the  age  of  seventeen  and  settled  on 
the  western  line  of  Mississippi,  later  moving  to  Arkansas,  and  from 
there  to  Johnson  County  where  he  acquired  a  large  tract  of  land 
entering  some  of  it  under  the  "bit  act.''  He  was  a  Tunnel  Hill  Town- 
ship resident  about  60  years.  Their  children  were  John  (2),  Finus 
(2),  Sylvester  (2).  John  married  Narcissa  Webb.  Their  children 
were  Narcissa  (3),  James  (3).  Nancy  (3)  married  C.  Johnson;  Tal 
(3)  married  R.  Goddard;  Delia  Ann  (3)  married  Newbolt;  Isadore 
(3)  married  Webb;  Ida  (3)  married  Albright;  John  (3)  married  Zilla 
Webb;  Nora  (3),  Cora  (3).  James  Whitehead  (3)  the  first  son  was 
educated  in  our  public  schools  and  served  the  county  twice  as  sheriff. 
He  resides  on  a  farm  in  Tunnel  Hill  Township  and  married  Bell 
Brooks.  Finus  (2)  married  Nancy  Vincent.  He  is  a  retired  farmer 
living  near  Tunnel  Hill.  Sylvester,  the  youngest,  was  educated  in 
public  schools  attending  two  Normal  terms  at  Vienna.  He  entered 
the  mercantile  business  at  Tunnel  Hill  with  J.  F.  Graham  in  ]873  and 


480  A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 

continued  this  with  other  business  interests  such  as  farming  and 
dealing  in  grain  the  remainder  of  his  life.  He  also  served  as  post 
master  nine  years  and  Notary  Public  twelve  years  at  Tunnel  Hill. 
He  was  very  active  and  successful  in  business.  He  built  the  brick 
store  and  residence  now  standing  in  Tunnel  Hill  on  the  west  side  of 
the  Big  Four  R.  R.  in  1882.  He  was  a  Mason  and  member  of  the 
Baptist  Church.  He  died  in  1906.  He  married  Mary  Brooks  1873, 
one  son  Noel  married  Estella  (see  Chapman).  Sylvester  married  sec- 
ond Mrs.  Avaline  Cover  who  resides  with  her  daughter,  Mrs.  Herbert 
Galagha  in  Goreville  (1923). 

WHITTENBERG 
This  family  came  from  Whittenberg,  Germany,  to  America  in 
Colonial  times  settling  in  Pennsylvania,  soon  after  the  Revolutionary 
War.  Henry  Whittenberg  direct  ancestor  of  the  Whittenbergs  of  this 
county  removed  from  Pennsylvania  to  Tennessee  when  a  young  man 
and  settled  in  Blount  County  where  many  of  his  descendents  still 
reside.  Three  of  the  sons,  Mathew,  Joseph  and  Daniel,  came  to  Illi- 
nois settling  in  Washington  County  1853.  William  the  youngest  son. 
married  Nancy,  the  daughter  of  John  M.  and  Nancy  (Dyson)  Smith; 
a  Methodist  minister.  Nancy  was  born  in  Virginia  in  1800  and  was 
said  to  be  a  relative  of  President  Harrison.  William  and  Nancy  id- 
moved  to  Henry  County,  Tennessee.  Some  years  later  while  still  a 
young  man  he  came  to  Illinois  to  look  a  location  and  visit  his  rela- 
tives. He  started  back  to  his  home  on  horse  back  and  was  never 
heard  of  again.  In  1840  his  widow  with  eight  children  came  to  John- 
son County  locating  in  Grantsburg  Township.  The  children  were 
Polly  A.  (2),  John  S.  (2),  Sally  D.  (2),  Henry  H.  (2),  William  P.  (2), 
Harrison  (2),  Daniel  W.  (2),  Malinda  (2).  The  mother  of  these  chil- 
dren was  a  woman  of  education,  strong  character  and  profoundly  re- 
ligious. The  advantages  of  schools  in  a  frontier  country  were  not 
very  good  and  the  mother  taught  her  children  at  home.  J.  S.  was 
the  eldest  boy  and  early  learned  to  love  books;  the  Bible  and  a  few 
biographs  being  the  only  books  they  owned.  After  the  day's  work 
was  done  the  children  had  their  time  for  study.  John  S.  was  a  great 
student  of  the  Bible  and  was  licensed  to  preach  at  an  early  age.  He 
entered  land  and  made  a  home  for  his  family  in  Tunnel  Hill  Town 
ship  where  his  sister  Malinda  who  married  Elihu  Vaughn  also  lived. 
Mr.  Whittenberg  was  County  Superintendent  of  schools  serving  two 
terms,  teaching  thirty-five  years.  He  was  also  a  local  minister  for 
many  years.  He  married  Isabella  Gregg  of  Massac  County.  The 
children  were  Ellen  (3)  who  married  James  Herrell.  Roy  (4)  their 
only  child  living  is  a  resident  of  this  county.  Adeline  (3)  married 
G.  W.  Hood.  Their  children  were  Frank  (4),  Charles  (4)  of  Chicago. 
Illinois,  Ruby    (4)    wife  of  Herbert   Reynolds   of   Herrin,   Illinois,  and 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY  481 


Ruth  (4)  who  married  Reverend  A.  C.  Cummins  (see  Cummins). 
Sarah  J.  (3)  married  David  Cover  and  resides  on  her  father's  old 
home  tarm.  Neecy  (3)  married  W.  H.  Cover  of  Tunnel  Hill.  Their 
children  are  David  (4),  Belle  (4),  Olive  (4);  Alonzo  L.  (3)  was  a 
teacher  from  boyhood,  beginning  at  the  age  of  seventeen.  He  farm- 
ed part  of  the  time  but  his  real  profession  was  teaching.  He  resign- 
ed the  Superintendency  of  the  Vienna  High  School  to  enter  the  office 
of  the  State  Superintendent  of  Schools  where  he  is  a  valued  member 
of  the  Department  of  Education.  He  married  Eva  Rice  of  Johnson 
County.  Their  children  are  Clarice  (4),  Inez  (4),  Bess  (4),  Marjorie 
(4),  Tennie  (4),  Isabella  (4),  Eva  (4),  Catherine  (4).  The  family  re- 
moved to  Springfield  1912. 

Wm.  P.  Whittenberg  (2)  was  one  of  the  family  of  Nancy  (Smith) 
Whittenberg  and  was  twelve  years  old  when  she  came  to  Illinois. 
He  first  resided  on  a  farm  in  Elvira  Township  and  when  the  call  for 
troops  came  to  enter  the  Civil  War  he  rented  his  farm  and  enlisted 
in  Company  K,  First  Illinois  Light  Artillery  where  he  served  three 
years.  He  was  wounded  at  Wolf  River  Bridge,  Moscow,  Tennessee. 
He  later  returned  to  his  regiment  and  served  until  1864.  He  first 
married  Zana  Evans  1854  who  died  soon  afterward.  He  married 
second  Mary  Jane  Burkalow.  The  children  were  Mahala  (3)  who 
married  Cass  Simmons.  Their  children  were  Maggie  and  Eva.  Maggie 
married  Calvin  (see  Mathis).  Eva  married  DeEsco  Walker.  This 
family  removed  to  Oklahoma.  Mary  (3)  married  Nelson  Oliver.  Mr. 
Whittenberg  after  the  war  married  Martha  Ann  (Cranshaw)  Benson 
whose  husband  had  died  from  a  gunshot  wound  and  imprisonment  in 
Andersonville,  during  the  Civil.  War.  Their  children  were  W.  H.  (3), 
D.  W.  (3),  I.  N.  (3),  Viola  (3),  Frank  (3),  Lula  May  (3).  W.  H.  (3) 
is  a  farmer  and  teacher.  He  removed  a  few  years  ago  to  Union 
County.  He  married  Lucretia  (see  Chapman).  D.  W.  (3)  entered 
the  business  world  quite  young  beginning  as  a  teacher  but  was  soon 
elected  cashier  of  the  First  National  Bank  of  Vienna,  Illinois,  where 
he  remained  for  twenty-five  years.  He  was  also  interested  in  farm- 
ing and  stock  raising  and  aided  materially  in  getting  farmers  of  this 
county  to  raise  a  better  grade  of  horses  and  cattle.  He  was  untiring 
in  his  efforts  to  move  forward  along  moral,  religious  and  whatever 
lines  would  benefit  the  community.  He  was  superintendent  of  the 
Methodist  Sunday  School  in  Vienna  for  more  than  twenty  years,  al- 
ways faithful  to  his  duty.  Vienna  lost  one  of  her  most  progressive 
citizens  when  he  removed  to  Centralia,  Illinois  1919  and  became 
the  cashier  of  the  Centralia  National  Bank.  He  married  Ida  C.  (see 
Chapman).  Daniel  Wayne  (4)  served  in  France  in  the  World  War. 
He  married  Ruth  Vaughn  and  resides  in  Centralia.  Elizabeth  (4)  is 
a  student  in  the  Centralia  High  School.     Mr.  Whittenberg  was  a  Re- 


482  A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


publican,  a  Mason  and  served  as  Grand  Patron  of  the  Order  of  the 
Eastern  Star  of  Illinois.  He  died  in  1923.  I.  N.  (4)  was  a  dentist  of 
Mount  Carmel,  Illinois,  and  married  Nell  Nazor.  They  had  Howard 
(4)  and  Frank  (4).  Viola  (3)  married  J.  B.  Morray.  Their  children 
were  Ralph  (4)  who  is  a  teacher  of  Agriculture  in  the  Oblong,  Illinois, 
schools.  He  married  Haloween  (see  Parker).  Eulala  (4)  resides  in 
Colorado  Springs,  Colorado.  Frank  (3)  married  Zilla  Webb.  He 
died  young  leaving  one  daughter,  Mabel  (4).  Lula  (3)  was  a  teacher 
of  this  county  several  years  and  married  Judge  T.  J.  Layman  of  Ben- 
ton, Illinois,  where  they  reside.  Their  children  are  Martha  (4)  and 
Thomas  J.  Jr.,  (4). 

WISE 
Hiram  H.  Wise  was  born  in  Tennessee.  His  father  William  J. 
and  William  the  grandfather,  were  both  natives  of  North  Carolina. 
The  pioneer  ancestor  was  Isaac  Wise,  who  was  the  father  of  William 
the  first,  was  born  and  grew  to  manhood  in  England,  coming  to  the 
United  States  in  young  manhood.  He  did  not  serve  in  the  Revolu- 
tionary War,  but  was  drafted  three  times.  He  furnished  a  substitute 
for  each  time  also  thirteen  horses  as  his  contribution  to  the  cause  ol' 
Independence.  William  Wise  married  Nancy  Howard  in  North  Caro- 
lina. They  raised  a  large  family  of  which  William  J.  Wise  was  one. 
He  married  Rebecca  Lawhon  also  of  North  Carolina.  They  came  to 
Illinois  in  1825  in  a  cart  with  a  tandem  team.  They  removed  to 
Tennessee  after  a  short  residence  here  and  remained  till  1837  when 
they  removed  to  Illinois  and  settled  in  Johnson  County.  There  were 
eight  children  of  this  family,  Lewis  E.  who  went  to  Louisiana;  Eliza- 
beth J.  married  William  Mounce;  Sarah  Ann  married  Hall;  Hiram 
H.,  Robert  H.  and  Oliver  Wise  were  all  resident  farmers  of  New 
Burnside  Township.  Hiram  H.  was  well  educated  for  that  time  and 
was  a  teacher  for  fifteen  years.  He  also  studied  law  and  was  ad- 
mitted to  practice  1853,  which  profession  he  followed  to  some  extent. 
He  served  four  years  in  the  Civil  War.  His  family  will  be  found  un- 
der Chapman. 


NOTE 

The  numbers  in  parenthesis  in  Biography  refer  to  the  generation. 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


483 


OLD  TOWN  OF  FOREMAN 

This  was  a  thriving  business  village  of  Johnson  County  for  sev- 
eral years  and  was  situated  a  little  south  and  east  of  the  present 
Foreman.  There  was  a  large  lumber  mill  located  there  in  1877  be- 
longing to  and  operated  by  F.  J.  Chapman  of  Carbondale,  111.,  and  Col. 
Samuel  Hess  of  Vienna.  It  also  contained  a  Post  Office,  a  number 
of  stores,  a  hotel,  and  all  the  things  necessary  to  a  town.  It  began 
to  decline  in  1879  as  the  timber  was  used  up.  The  mills  were  moved 
and  it  was  dormant  as  a  town  for  many  years.  The  buildings  being 
wooden  finally  fell  victims  to  the  ravages  of  time  and  weather.  When 
the  Burlington  railroad  was  finished  in  1910  and  crossed  the  Big 
Four  so  near  the  site  of  the  old  Foreman  the  same  name  was  given 
the  crossing.  The  railroad  station,  the  business  house  and  dwelling 
of  H.  L.  Bridges  and  one  or  two  other  dwellings  are  the  only  build- 
ings in  the  present  Foreman.  Mr.  Bridges  has  kept  a  hotel,  a  general 
store  and  the  Post  Office  since  the  foundation  of  the  town. 


ADVANCE  SUBSCRIBERS  TO  JOHNSON  COUNTY 

HISTORY 


Ashley,  Mrs.  L.  C. 
Allen,  W.  C. 
Allison,  Mrs.  S.  J. 
Bain,  William 
Barnwell,  Mrs.  A. 
Bartlesen,  J.  W. 
Beauman,  Guy 
Benson,  A.  G. 
Benson,  Arthur  C. 
Benson,  E.  C. 
Bellemy,  Edward 
Blagg,  Mrs.  Laura 
Bradley,  W.  Y. 
Brewer,  Dr.  Gilbert 
Bridges,  H.  T. 
Bridges,  G.  H. 
Brown,  Mrs.  Mary  J. 
Burnett,  L.  E. 
Carlton,  John  W. 
Carrell,  Mrs.  John 
Carson,  U.  C. 


Carson,  Samuel  C. 
Carlton,  W.  F. 
Casey,  C.  N. 
Carter,  W.  B. 
Carter,  Mrs.  J.  C. 
Carter,  Miss  Jennie 
Carter,  Dr.  F.  H. 
Carter,  J.  H. 
Carter,  Samuel  J. 
Carter,  W.  N. 
Cavitt,  Dr.  R.  A. 
Chapman,  Ralph 
Chapman,  P.  T.  Jr. 
Chapman,  Dr.  O.  D. 
Chapman,  R.  D. 
Chapman,  J.  C.  Jr. 
Chapman,  Mrs.  J.  C. 
Chapman,  Chas.  H. 
Chapman,  Mrs.  Ruth 
Chapman,  S.  J. 
Choate,  Wilson  F. 


484 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


Clayten,  P.  T. 
Clymer,  W.  T. 
Cohn,  C. 

Copeland,  Mrs.  J.  D. 
Copeland,  Augustus 
Copeland,  S.  L. 
Copeland,  William 
Copeland,  E.  E. 
Copeland,  Mrs.  Minnie  L. 
Coleman,  Miss  Ada 
Corbett,  J.  C. 
Cousins,  Mrs.  T.  S. 
Cunningham,  J.  E. 
Cowan,  J.  O. 
Davis,  Mrs.  Elizabeth  M. 
Davis,  T.  F. 
Dasher,  Mrs.  Bell 
Dayton,  Mrs.  Wm.  Hale 
Deans  Arthur 
Deans,  Mrs.  Ivy  C. 
Dill,  J.  D. 
Dunn,  Mrs.  J. 
Dunscomb,  Mrs.  C.  E. 
Drake,  Dr.  H.  T. 
Farris,  Dr.  G.  K. 
Farris,  Mrs.  Mary 
Fern,  L.  D. 
Fern,  James  F. 
Finney,  R.  M. 
Fitch,  C.  S. 
Fleming,  Clyde  D. 
Ford,  Miss  Ella 
Ford,  Ray 
Francis,  J.  E. 
Franklin,  Dr.  A.  L. 
Frizzell,  Lewis  H. 
Garrett,  W.  M. 
Gibbons,  R.  A. 
Gillespie,  G.  B. 
Gillespie,  Thos.  E. 
Gillespie,  J.  B.  Jr. 
Gillespie,  Mrs.  Sherman 
Gillespie,  Mrs.  Samuel 
Gordon,  Mrs.  James 


Graves,  Dr.  I.  N. 
Gray,  B.  S. 
Gray,  Ivy  B. 
Grinnell,  Charlotte 
Grissom,  Nettie  I. 
Grissom,  Mrs.  J.  M. 
Grinnell,  Mrs.  J.  C. 
Hatt,  Wm.  B. 
Hale,  Mrs.  Maud  B. 
Hailey,  O.  E. 
Heaton,  J.  C.  B. 
Heaton,  Mrs.  Wm. 
Heaton,  Fred 
Herrin  News 
Hess,  Everett 
Hight,  Mrs.  Alice  C. 
Hill,  Mrs.  Maggie 
Hogg,  Mrs.  J.  L. 
Hogue,  Rev.  E.  G. 
Hood,  S.  H. 
Hood,  A.  F. 
Hood,  Mrs.  Adaline 
Hood,  Mabel  C, 
Hooker,  Thomas 
Howell,  Frank 
Howerton,  J.  M. 
Huffman,  G.  H. 
Huffman,  F.  M. 
Huffman,  C.  J. 
Humphreys,  Miss  Linnie 
Hunsaker,  Paul 
Jackson,  Mrs.  A.  G. 
Jackson,  Mrs.  Fanny 
Jackson,  John  B. 
Jobe,  Mrs.  Nannie 
Johnston,  Mrs.  Amy  E. 
Jones,  Rev.  J.  B. 
Keltner,  J.  C. 
Kingsbury,  E.  S. 
Kivitt,  Dollie 
Kolberg,  Mrs.  E.  E. 
Kuykendall,  Mrs.  J.  B. 
Kuykendall,  A.  J. 
Kuykendall,  F.  S. 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


485 


Kuykendall,  Guy  S. 
Lambert,  Lucy 
Lawrence,  Mrs.  Celia 
Leatherman,  F.  A. 
Leary,  Frank 
Lentz,  Mrs.  Clara 
Littell,  C.  G. 
Looney,  Dr.  J.  T. 
Lovelace,  Miss  Georgia 
Library,  Cairo 
Library,  Chicago  Public 
Library,  Chicago  Historical 
Library,  Marion-Carnegie 
Library,  Springfield  Hist. 
Library,  Vienna-Carnegie 
Library,  Newberry 
McCall,  Dr.  T.  E. 
McCall,  Dr.  R.  A. 
McCall,  Daniel 
McCartney,  M.  N. 
McClanahan,  Joel 
Mackey,  J.  F. 
Mahl,  Mrs.  Henry 
Main,  Mrs.  Bertha 
Markus,  Mrs.  Hazel 
Mathis,  Calvin 
Mathis,  Archie 
Mathis,  J.  P. 
Mathis,  Mrs.  Alonzo 
Mathis,  Mrs.  George 
Marshall,  Charles 
Marshall,  Dr.  R.  M. 
Martin,  Miss  Orpha 
Martin,  Mrs.  Orpha 
Maupin,  Freda  May 
Mills,  Charles 
Moak,  Mrs.  John 
Mozley,  George 
Mozley,  Mrs.  N.  J. 
Morton,  James  F. 
Morton,  Mrs.  Elizabeth 
Morray,  Ralph 
Moore,   Wm. 
Murrell,  B.  N. 


Nally,  Ernest  L. 
Newbolb,  Lovell 
Nobles,  Dr.  C.  D. 
Nobles,  Harry 
Oliver,  L.  C. 
Oeker,  Bertha  L. 
Parker,  Lucas 
Pearson,  Mrs.  R.  N. 
Peterson,  Charles 
Perkins,  A.  J. 
Perkins,  Hattie 
Phelps,  Paul 
Pierce,  W.  E. 
Powell,  Paul  T. 
Racy,  John  L. 
Rebman,  Miss  Emma 
Redden,  Otto 
Reese,  S.  H. 
Reynolds,  John 
Reynolds,  Ora 
Reynolds,  J.  W. 
Reynolds,  W.  W. 
Ridenhower,  Leva 
Ridenhower,  R.  R. 
Rose,  -Dr.  P.  W. 
Rossteuscher,  Ella  D. 
Rush,  W.  V. 
Sanders,  P.  S. 
Sharp,  John 
Simpson,  Mrs.  J.  P. 
Simpson,  J.  J. 
Simpson,  Augustus 
Simpson,  F.  M. 
Simpson,  W.  L. 
Simpson,  Will  R. 
Simpson,  Wm.  R. 
Smith,  Adison 
Smith,  W.  Y. 
Smith,  Lewis 
Smith,  Miss  Nettie  J. 
Smith,  U.  E. 
Smith,  Walter  A. 
Smith,  Walter 
Smith,  H.  B. 


486 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


Simmons,  J.  M. 
Simmons,  Wiley- 
Snow,  Mrs.  Mary 
Snow,  Norman  T. 
Spaulding,  Mrs.  Mary 
Spann,  H.  A. 
Spence,  W.  A. 
Stilwell,  Mrs.  Lee 
Stout,  G.  E. 
Sullivan,  Wm. 
Sutton,  W.  E. 
Taylor,  T.  C. 
Taylor,  Ruth  C. 
Taylor,  A.  P. 
Thacker,  H.  P. 
Thacker,  A.  R. 
Thomas,  J.  L. 
Thomas,  Miss  Mary 
Throgmorton,  J.  F. 
Throgmorton,  W.  A. 
Thompson,  Dr.  William 
Trigg,  L.  O. 
VanCleve,  M.  T. 
Veach,  Thomas 
Veach,  John  L. 
Veach,  A.  G. 
Verhines,  Robert  C. 
Vickers,  Mrs.  A.  K. 


Vienna  High  School 
Vienna  Public  Library 
Walker,  D.  Esco 
Walker,  John  W. 
Walker,  Lindorf 
Walker,  E.  A. 
Walker,  Mrs.  Maragret 
Walter,  Mrs.  Clyde 
Walters,  Mrs.  Rilla 
Winchester,   Ernest 
Whitehead,  Noel 
Whittenberg,  Inez  C. 
Whitnel,  Amanda  T. 
White,  Clara  L. 
Wheeler,  John 
Williams,  Hon.  T.  S. 
Williams,  Dr.  H.  O. 
Wiley,  Mrs.  Libbie  E. 
Wise,  George 
Woelfle,  J.  E. 
Woelfle,  F.  R. 
Woelfle,  J.  R. 
Woolard,  Etta  G. 
Worrell,  F.  E. 
West,  Mrs.  E.  B. 
Westman,  William 
Wright,  Mrs.  Olive 
Lech,    Mrs.    Lelia. 


INDEX  TO  CONTENTS 


"Advertiser,  The"  105 

Advertisement,  for  a  slave-— 156 
Advanced  Subscribers 

483,  484,  485,  486 

Adair   54 

Allen,  Note  to  323 

Allen,   Nesbit   93 

Allen,  W.  C. 221,  323 

Aliens,   157 

Allen,  Willis  161 

Allen,  W.  J.  161 

Alexander  County  15,  17 

America    283 

American  Legion  312,  286 

Ammunition  70 

Apple  Cuttings 80 

Area  15,   16 

Armistice,  News  of 204 

Articles,  Used  for  Money  71 

Assumption    39 

Athletics    104 

Austin,  Calvin  239 

Ausbrooks,  Sarah  J. 104 

Automobiles   74 

Avery,   Violet  100 

Axe,  dog  and  gun  67 

Axley,  Robin  323 

Axley,  Pleasant 323 

Bain,  James 61,  149,  297,  324 

Bain,  John  154,  219,  325 

Bain   324,   325,   326 

Bain,  Mrs.  Winnie 69,  75,  110 

Bain,  Charles  106 

Bain  and  Jackson  63 

Baker,  David  J.  160 

Baker,  Judge  David  J. 160 

Ballance,  G.  W.  109,  163 

Ballance   327 

Banks  285,  286,  289,  291,  292,  303 
Baptist  Church,  Missionary— 116 


Baptist  Church,  Bethel  119 

Baptist  Church,  County 

Line    117 

Baptist  Church,  Friendship— 116 

Baptist  Church,  Goreville 117 

Baptist  Church,  Grantsburg— 118 

Baptist  Church,  Mt.  Lion 116 

Baptist  Church,  Pleasant 

Grove   117 

Baptist  Church,  Vienna 117 

Baptist  Church,  Min- 
isters     118,    119 

Baptist  Church  Primitive, 

Little  Flock   119 

Baptist  Church  Primitive, 

Rock  Springs  -119 

Baptist  Church  General, 

Bethel   119 

Baptist  Church  General, 

Friendship   120 

Barbecues    82 

Bayles,  J.  W.  140 

Beauman,  D.  F. 327,  328 

Beauman,  Guy 32,  36,  328 

Beck,  Lewis   C. 19,  22 

Beggs,  Alexander 171 

Bellemy  328 

Belknap  22,   298 

Bensons,  Bluff  21 

Benson,  A.   G.   96,  329 

Benson,  J.  M. 328 

Benson,   J.   N. 329 

Birds   30 

Binding  out   of  Orphans 73 

Billings,   H.   W. 161 

"Bit  Act"  153 

Big  Muddy  17 

Big  Bay  Creek 33 

Bliss,  Chas.  W. 106 

Bloomfield 55,  93,  280,  292 


490 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


Boggs 14,    54,    148 

Boys  Working  Reserve 201 

Boyt,    Felix    329 

Boyt,  T.   E. 56,  303,  329 

Boyt,  W.  W. 95,  279,  329 

Borin,  Bazel   244 

Boundaries    16 

Braden,  Clerk  122 

Bradshaw,  John — 16,  59,  60,  150 

Bradley,  Charles  52 

Bratton,  Dr.  George 

243,   330,   331 

Brazel,  George 61,  62,  331 

Breeze,  Sidney  160 

Bridges,  Alfred -242,  332 

Bridges,  D.  Y.— -29,  34,  226,  333 

Bridges,  John 332,   335 

Bridges,  Julia  88 

Bridges,  Henry  T 331 

Bridges,  Harry  T. 331 

Big   Four   Railroad 5S 

Bishop,  Edith  100 

Brinkley,  Henry,   Sale 243 

Brooks,  Dr.   B.  W. 227,  223 

Brownsville 45,  65,  150 

Brown,  J.  M. 28,  335,  336 

Brown,   James   335 

Brown,  Opal   100 

Buncombe   286 

Burnside  288,  290 

Burnside  Township  281 

Burnside,  General  57 

Burklow,  Harrison  137 

Burnett,   Charles 63,   336 

Burnett,    Fred 55,    337 

Burnett,  Asahel 96,   336 

Burlington,  Railroad  59 

"Burnside   Bugler"  108 

Business  Firms  to  1817 253 

Burr,    Aaron    39 

Business  Men  of  Vienna 316 

Byers,  John 44,  152,  252,  233 

Cache  Township-17,  18,  249,  280 
Cache   River 33,   155 


Cache  Clap  Post  Office 55 

Cairo   15,   78 

Cairo  and  Vincennes  Rail- 
road    57 

Cahokia  16,  51. 

Caledonia    282 

Calhoun  337,  338 

Campbell,  Decatur  162 

Carmichael,   John   241 

Cannery  31 

Carnegie,  Andrew  111 

Cape  Girardeau  52 

Carson,  Hiram  340 

Cartwright,  Peter-125,  130,   136 

Carter  341,  342 

Carter,  J.  H. 110,  278,  342 

Carter,  J.   C. 63,  64 

Carter,  H.  V. 32,  279 

Carterville   Trial    143 

Casey 48,   339,    340 

Casey,  Levi 151,  339 

Casey,  Randolph  62,  76,  153,  340 

Casey,  Levi  B. 340 

Casey,  Green  R. 57,  340 

Cattle  Raising  28 

Catholic  Church  122 

Cavitt,  Allen 100 

Cavitt,  H.  O. 63,  64 

Cedar   Creek  155 

Cedar  Bluff 56,  71 

Celebration,   July   4th 83 

Celebrating   birthdays    85 

Central  Hotel  63 

Centenniel  State  05 

Center  Township-17,  18,  42.  249 

Chapman  343  to  353 

Chapman  and  Hooker 38 

Chapman   and  Wiley 63 

Chapman,  S.  J.-54,  55,  344,  353 

Chapman,  D.  C. 278,  309,  354 

Chapman,  P.  T.-57,  228,  278,  354 
Chapman,  F.  J.,  Sr.-29,  138,  346 

Chapman,  J.    B. 107,   347 

Chapman,  F.  J.,  Jr. 347,  355 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


491 


Chapman,  J.  C. 

28,  32,  278,  355,  356 

Chapman,    Daniel-172,    173,   343 

Chamness,  G.  E. 100 

Chautauqua  Circle   313 

Charles  Stone  Quarry 31,  7J 

Choat,  Ezekiel  49 

Choat,   Nicholas    241 

Choat    472 

Chicago  and  Eastern  Illi- 
nois Railroad  58 

Chicago   Tribune   219 

Chicago  Press  Tribune 220 

"Chills"   25 

Christian  Temperance  Union  86 

Christian  Church 62,  120 

Christian  Church,  Belknap — 121 

Christian   Church,   Berea 120 

Christian  Church, 

Bethlehem    120 

Christian  Church,  Burnside— 120 
Christian  Church, 

Grantsburg    121 

Christian  Church,  Elvira 121 

Christian  Church,  Vienna 121 

Churches,   Early  82 

Church,  Later  Day 

•    Saints  123,  124 

Clark's  Trail  39 

Clark's  Trail,  Marked 41 

Clayton,  T.   J. 50 

Clark,   Peter   150 

Clear  Creek  17 

Clement,  W.   W. 162 

Cline,  John  B. 10t> 

Club,  Vienna  Womans 313 

Clubs    313 

Cochran,  Andrew 60,  61 

Cochran    356 

Coleman,    D.   C. 93 

Collins,  Nancy  and  Jeremiah  73 

Colored  People   155 

Columbian   Exposition   86 

Company    84 


Conclusion  317,  318 

Congregational  Church  122 

Congressional   Districts    228 

Congressmen    228 

Concord  Meeting  House— 48,  135 

Cook,  Daniel  160 

Cooking,    Early    77 

Copperhead  222,  224 

Copeland,  William-173,  237,  357 
Copeland,  Samuel  S. 

53,  55,  62,  278,  301,  35S 

Copeland,  James  P. 364 

Copeland,  John 91,  93,  35S 

Copeland,  James 52,  226,  278 

Corn    27 

Corder,   R.    P. 161 

Cotton    29 

Court  Records,  1813  to  1816 

249,    252 

Court  Notes 252  258 

Courts  1817  to  1823- — 254  to  257 

County  of  Illinois 14 

Court  of  Common  Pleas 

__258   to   272 

"County  Reformer"   109 

Court  Notes,  Miscellaneous 

272   to   276 

"Courier"  105 

Cowan    364,    365 

Cox,  Richard 237,  238,  239 

Cox,   Abner    247 

Cox,    Thomas    225 

Crice,  Catherine  70 

Crawford,  M.   C. 162 

Crum,  J.  S. 106,  278,  365 

Cumberland    52 

Cummins,  Peter  365 

Customs    67 

Cypress 109,  222,  291 

Clymer  356,  357 

Dairying    27 

Damron,   John    147 

Damron    367 

Damron,  Dr.  J.   M.  C. 368 


492 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


Damron,  J.  W. 32,  279,  369 

Damron,  C.  N. 278,  279,  368 

Damron,  A.  G. 57,  279,  369 

Dancing  80 

Daniel  Chapman  Chapter 

60,  63,  65,  104,  146,  314 

Daughters  of  the  American 

Revolution    314 

Davis,  W.  Y.,  Sr. 226 

Davidge,  J.   M. 161 

Debate 122,  220 

Deans,  W.  D.,  Sr. 277,  385 

Deans,  W.  D.,  Jr. 107,  385 

Deed,  first  153 

Deming   161 

Ditching    27 

Double  Bridges 40,  149 

Dorris,  William  231 

Dougherty,  John  161 

Douglass,   S.   A. 218,   220 

Douglass,  Anderson  49 

Douglass,  Elizabeth 

239,    240,    247 

Douglass,   William    58 

Drainage   33 

Drainage  Districts 34,  35,  36 

Draft  Selective 209,  215 

Drurys  Creek   45 

Duff,  Judge  A.  D. 57,  162 

Duncan,    William 240,    241 

Duncan,  Judge  W.  W. 90 

Dutchman    33 

Dwyer,  Mrs.  Eliza 

105,   149,   150,   222 

Dwyer,    Miss   Anna 86 

Early  Games  80 

Early  Mails   54 

Earthman's  Ferry 42,  44,  45 

Earthman,  Henry  51 

Earthman,  John   52 

Eddy,  Henry  159 

Education 91    to   105 

Edwards,  Ninian  16,  19,  159,  170 
Egypt    15 


Egyptian   Democrat  108 

"Egyptian   Press'   ^1 

Elections    78 

Election   Districts  216 

Elkins,  John 49,  151,  369 

Elections,  Joshua 49,  370 

Elkins,  Dr.  Geo.  L. 63,  372 

Elkins,  V.  K. 28,  370 

Elkins,  George 74,  145,  371 

Elkins,    Willis 46,    370 

Elkins,  William  49 

Elkins,  Everett  100 

Elkins,   Young   139 

Elvira 

-—17,  18,  59,  60,  155,  279,  283 

Elms,  David  47 

England  13 

English    373 

English,  Absalom   106 

English,  Judge  G.  W. 

163,  227,  373 

Estes,  J.  N.  64 

Eubanks,  Joseph 231,  232 

Evans,  Geo. 60,  150 

Evans,  Owen  60 

Factories    31 

Fain,  Aron  T. 106 

Fairs 87,    88,  .  8'9 

Farris,    Lloyd    89 

Farris   374,  375 

Farris,  J.  F. 375 

Farris,  Dr.  G.  K. 167,  375 

Farris,   T.   G.,  Jr. 107,   278 

Farris,   James   F. 106 

Families  owning  Slaves 155 

Farms 31,    32 

Farmers   Organizations   32 

Farm   Bureau   32 

Fencing  75,  76 

Fern,  L.  W. 375 

Fern,   Dr.  W.  J. 287,  375 

Fern  Clyffe,  Rebman  Park 21 

Ferndale   21 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


493 


Ferries  51 

Field,   A.   P. 159 

Finney,  James 54,  59,  119 

Finney,  John  241 

Finney,  Green  P. 244 

Finney  376 

First   Court   House 59 

Fisher,  R.  M. 278,  279,  377 

Fishing  89 

Flannery,  Daniel   147 

Flatheads    141 

Food  Administrator  202 

Ford,    Gov.    Thomas 141,142 

Ford,  Ray  104 

Fordham    1 47 

Foreman  40 

Fox,  Captain  IS 

Fox  hunting  89 

France   14 

Francis,  W.  A. 106 

Francis,  J.   S. 278,  377,  378 

Franklin,   Capt.    A. 139 

Freemont,  John   C. 219 

Free  School,  first 91 

Frick,  Joseph  K. (.2 

Ft.  Massac 39,  40,  54 

Fuel   Administrator   202 

Furguson's  Ferry  52 

Furguson,    Hamlet 17,    151 

Furguson,  Colonel 43,  44 

Galeener,  W.  E. 305,  378 

Galeener,  Geo.  E. 305,  378 

Gallatin 17,   142,   226 

Gage,  Daniel  140 

Ganntown  293 

Gardens    69 

Gardner,   Samuel   265 

Garner,  William  52 

Gatewood,  W.  J. 160 

Graves,   John    S. 65 

George's  Creek 145,  155 

Gibbs,  Dr.  J.  W 141,  226,  379 

Gill,  Benj.   174 

Gillespie,  Capt.  J.  B.— -220,  380 


Gillespie,  G.  B. 110,  150,  381 

Gillespie,   T.   E. 381 

Gillespie,  W.  L. 243 

Gilliam,  W.  H. 109,  381,  382 

Glassford,  S.  M. 88,  382 

Goddard  382,  383 

Gore  383,  386 

Gore,  J.  W. 278,  384 

Gore,  T.  B. 278,  384 

Goreville  279,  285 

Goreville  Record   108 

Goshen   Settlers   151 

Government  13,  14 

Graham  .—387 

Gray's  Mill  56 

Gray,  B.   287 

Gray,  Nathan   56 

Gray,  A.  J. 87,  278,  387 

Gray,  Charles-i 56,  303,  387 

Grammer,  John 45,  69,  226 

Grand  Army  Posts 290,  312 

Grantsburg  Township  19,  22,  281 
Green,  Nathaniel  155,  229  to  231 

Green,  Hon.  W.   H. 246,  162 

Green's   Ferry 43,   45,  52 

Green,   Capt.   18 

Green,  Johnathan  B. 106 

Griggs,.  Jesse 17,   150 

Griffith,  Capt.  17 

Grissom   387 

Griswold,  Stanley 16 

Grow,  Hon.   G. 217 

Hacker,  W.  H. 161 

Hall,  Benj.  T. 159 

Hall,  James  1«0 

Ham,   Charles  J. 62 

Hamilton,  Richard  161 

Hamletsburg   151 

Hankins,   M.  A. 88,  204,  27> 

Hankins,   J.   B. 89 

Hankins,  Miss  May 95,  105 

Hannah   55 

Hardin,   Jeptha  160 

Hardin  County 160 


494 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


Hardesty,  W.  H. 108 

Hargrave,  John  61 

Harper,  Velma 100 

Harper,   Mrs.   John 85 

Harper  388 

Harkin,  O.  A. 387,   388 

Harpending,  H.  G. 220 

Harrington,  Howell  234 

Harrell,  John  C 243 

Harrell,  Joel  244 

Harrell,  Elias  92 

Harris,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  N.  C 94 

Harris,   George   108 

Harvick,  John 63 

Harvick,  Jacob 

151,  172,  244,  388  to  392 

Harvick,  Adam 46,  389 

Harvick,  Martin-48,  49,  216,  389 

Harvick,  O.  E. 112,  390 

Harvick,  Frances  105 

Harvesting    75 

Hayward,  Frank  62 

Health    25 

Heaton  392,  393 

Heaton  Brothers  36 

Heaton,  J.  C.  B.-32,  36,  37,  393 

Heaton,  Jeannette  100,  393 

Heacock,   Russell   E. 158 

"Hell's  Neck"  217 

Helm   393 

Henry,  A.  J 62 

"Herald,  The"  107 

Hester,  C.  B. 63 

Hess,   S.  J 104 

Hess,  Col.  Samuel, 87,  298 

Hess,  Colonel  Samuel 473 

Hibbs,  Jonas  60 

Highway,  Logan  and  Lee 50 

Hight,  Eld.  J.  F. 107,  278 

Hight,   M.    L. 8S 

Hill,   Mrs.   Maggie 105 

Hill,  A.  H. 96 

High  School 101,  102 


High  School,  Vienna 

Township  103,  105 

Hitchcock,  Wm.   225 

Hogg   394 

Hog  Raising 28 

Home  Bureau  33 

Home  Coming  82,  88 

Home  Brew  72 

Hood  394 

Hoffman   395 

Hook,  Isaac  138 

Hooker,   Dr.   A.   H. 110 

Horticulture  36 

Hotels    300 

Howerton,  Mrs.  Sarah 152 

Howerton,  Anderson  221 

Howerton  395 

Howell  395 

Hoyne,   Thomas   160 

Hughes,   Levi   55 

Huffman,  George  H. 279,  395 

Huffman,  C.  J. 279,  396 

Huffman,  F.  M.  397 

Hull's   Landing   148 

Hunsaker,   Jacob   73 

Hunsaker   474 

Illinois  Territory 169,  258 

Illinois  14,  39,  65,  169 

Illinois  Southern— -15,  16,  27,  37 

Illinois   Central 15,   27 

Illinois    Emigrant 61,    295 

Illinois    Central   Railroad 58 

Indians 71,   145,   149,   169 

Indian   Trails 43,    45 

Indian  Point- — 40,  41,  43,  47,  48 

Influenza  25 

Infairs    81 

Interest  Rate   70 

Interscholastic  Meet 104 

Imprisonment  for  Debt 70 

Ireland,  Alexander  241 

Irwin,  Caleb  62 

Jacobs,  L.  F. 94,   397 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


495 


Jack,  Jedediah  162 

Jackson   County 

17,  65,  78,  150,  152 

Jackson,  Samuel 

55,   87,  95,  300,  325 

Jackson,  Mrs.  Fanny— 66,  74,  85 

Jackson,  J.  B. 110,  149 

Jail  65,  66 

James,  E.  J. 1S9 

Jennings,  Mr.  and  Mrs 83 

Johnson,  Joel 46,  48,  49,  391 

Johnson  Court  House 

44,  45,  54,  55 

Johnson  County— -15,  16,  17,  19 

Johnson   Cemetery  139 

"Johnson  County  Enquirer"  105 
"Johnson  County  Yeoman"— 107 
"Johnson  County  Journal" 

79,  107,  309 

"Johnson    County    Herald" — 10S 

Johnson,  Col.   Richard  M. 19 

Johnson,  Jasper  95,  105,  106,  397 

Johnson,  George  107 

Johnson,  Hardy  49 

Johnson,  F.  R. 150 

Joliet   13 

Jones,  James 91,  92,  397,  398 

Jonesboro  65,  151 

Jones,  F.   M. 298,  431 

Jones,  B.  O. 162 

Jones,  John   106 

Jones,   Bennett 243,   17S 

Jones,    Etheldied   397 

Jones,  Thomas  34 

Jones,  T.  N. 108 

Jordan,   Francis    149 

Juchereau,    M.    39 

Judges 16,   257,    258 

Judicial   Circuits 257,   258 

Jurors,  Early 254  to  264 

Kane,  Elias  K. 159,  160,  254 

Kaskaskia— 16,  51,  55,  145,  149, 

151,  153,  160,  225 

Karnak  15 


Kerley   398 

Kerley,  Dr.  T.  B. 291 

Kirckham,    F.    C. 218,27  i 

Knights  of  the  Golden  Circle  221 
Kuykendall,  A.   J.,   Sr.— 54,   62, 

87,   93,   106,   161,  222,  228,  399 

Kuykendall,  J.  B. 56,  63,  400 

Kuykendall,  A.  J.,  Jr. 56 

Ladd,  Millon 47,  55,  300,  400 

Land  Office  153 

Land,  Entries  154 

Land,  grants,  deeds  and 

transfers 154,  155,   248 

Lanesville  6 

Landing,   Hull's 52,    148 

Landing,   Mabery's    47 

Landing,  Miles  52 

Landing,    Copeland's   52 

LaRue,  Dr.  H.  D. 36,  55,  166 

Laughlin,  Rev.  R.  W. 400 

Laughlin   54 

Lawrence,  William 

53,  148,   229,  235 

Lawrence,  William  Post 290 

Lawrence  401 

Lawson,  Randolph  172 

Lawyers  158  to  163 

Laybourn,  H.  C. 135,  401 

Legislatures  and  Members 

225,   227 

Letter  from  Governor  Ford 

141,    142 

Liberty  Loan 200,  201 

Library,  Vienna  City-109  to  111 
Library,  Vienna  Carnegie 

Ill   to  113 

Librarian  and  Members  of 

Board   112 

Lick  Creek  33,  60 

Light,   Manufacture  of 77 

Lincoln,  Votes  for 219 

Lincoln  Green,  Post  Office 

221,    222 

Little  Cache  33 


496 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY" 


Little,  Robert 300 

Longworth,   Nicholas   — . 154 

Log  Rolling  79 

Logan,  Gen.  John  A. 162 

Looney,  farm 91,  149 

Looney,   Dr.  W.   A. 1-401,   402 

Loom,  Cords  and  Wheel-67,  68 

Looney,  J.  W. 104,  401 

Looney,  Dr.  J.  T 168 

Louisiana  14 

Madden,  L.  L.— 93,  175,  219,  402 

Madden,   Nancy   Spence 402 

Madison  County 17,  150 

Mahl,  Henry  403 

Mangum,  William  403 

Mangum  403 

Mangum,  Dr.  H.  Y. 403 

Marberry   403,   405 

Markets   72 

Marks  for  stock 76 

Marriage  dates 275,  2?tf 

Marquette  13 

Marshall,  Charles-31,  32,  34,  88 

Marshall    4  74 

Martin,  Mrs.   O.  P. 222 

Martin,  Dr.  O.  P. 475 

Mason,  Charles  H 31,  34,  88 

Massac  Township   18 

Massac  County- — 17,  34,  41,  141 

Mathis,  J.  P 227,  278,  405,  406 

Mathis,  Mathew — 149,  243 

Mathis,  A.   A. 216,   217 

Mathis,  Archie  101 

Mathis,  Henry  74 

Mathis,  Wiley   405 

Maupin,  John  139 

Mead,    David   H 56 

Mears,  William  159 

Mermet,  Father  Jean 39 

Methiglin    72 

Methodist  Church 124,  125 

Methodist  Church  appoint- 
ments  125   to  135 

Methodist  Church  presiding 


elders  131 

Methodist  Church  ministers  136 
Methodist  Church  Lay- 
men   136,  137 

Methodist  Church  Southern  123 

Metropolis 53,  109,  162 

Merriman    139 

Mills    53 

Mills,  C.  W. 278,   407 

Militia 169,   170,   171 

Mississippi  River  16,  78,  147,  169 

Mizell,  Dr.  W.  R. 36,  165 

Moccasin,    Gap 40,    42 

Modglin   407 

Moffit,  J.  S  108 

Moody,  Mrs 105,  222 

Moore,  W.  M. 88,  110 

Morgan  407,  40S 

Morgan,  O.  R. 278,  279,  408 

Morris,  William 232,  233 

Morris    409 

Morris,  Irvin 47,   62,   278 

Morray  408,   409 

Morton,  Eld.  James  M. 409 

Morton,  E.  F. 109,  409 

Mound  City  169 

Moyer,  W.  N. 34.  43 

Mozley,  J.  N. 221,  278,  410 

Mozley,  George  61 

Mozley,  Anna  61 

Mozley,  John  T. 106 

Mozley,  N.  J. 64 

Mullinax,  Henry  106 

Mulinberg   14  S 

Murrell,  family  157 

Murrie   476 

Murray,   T.   J. 107,   163 

Murry,  J.  B. 55,  61 

Mounce,  William   55 

Murrie,  John  13  3 

McAvoy,  Mrs.  Mary 36 

McAvoy,  J.  P. 412 

McBride    225 

McCall   410,   411 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


497 


McCall,    Dr.    R.    M 411 

McCall,   Dr.   T.   E. 411 

McCall,  Dr.  Robert 411 

McCall,  James  32,  411 

McDonough,   Stace   55 

McCartney,  M.  N. 

103,  110,  411,  412 

McCartney,   J.   F. 101 

McLernand,   John   M. 161 

McCorkle  Creek  51 

McCorkle,  Joseph 69,  412 

McCorkle,  John  R. 95,  412 

McElmurry   147,   153 

McFatridge,  Washington   49 

McFatridge,  William 

151,   226,   413 

McFatridge,  John  151 

McGee,   O.   M. 32 

McGee,  A.  W. 217 

McGee,   Benjamin   F. 64 

McGee,   Benjamin   154 

McGee,  F.   M.  226,  284,  288,  414 

McGowan,   William 235,   236 

McGowan,   Samuel 49,   152 

McGinnis,  Richard  237 

Mcintosh,  Benjamin 245,  246 

McKee,  William  152 

McKenzie,  Dr.  A.   E. 28 

McKenzie  475 

McMahan,  Hugh  36 

McLean,  John   160 

McMahan,  P.  G. 36 

McMahan,   John    171 

McNeely,  David   265 

Name  of  County   19 

Napoleon,  Town  of  282 

"Nathe"    156,    157 

Newspapers 105  to  109 

New  Burnside 153,  288 

Negro  Boy,  Death  of 138 

Noble,  Henry  150 

Nobles,  John  B.   414 

Nobles,  Orin  104 

Nobles,  Wm. 64,  278,  414 


Nobles,   Charles    411 

Nobles,   Dr.    Charles    D. 470 

Northwest  Territory 14,  70 

Normal,  Southern  Illinois 101 

Officers,   County 276   to   279 

Ohio  River 16,  78,  147,  169 

Old  Papers 229   to  244 

Old  Town  of  Foreman 483 

Oldest  paper  found  229 

Oliver,  John 150,  334 

Oliver,  James  F 87,  335 

Oliver,    Lenna    88 

Oliver,   Cass 90,   335 

Organization    of    county 16 

Orphans,   Binding  Out 73 

Ozark  Ridge 20,  22,  25,  36,  40 

Ozark 38,   145,   292 

Parker  City 42,  58,  318 

Parker,  Geo.  W 58 

Parker,  I.  A.  J. 94,  416 

Parker,  Dr.  C.  A.  C. 108,  416 

Parker,  Lucas 108,  416 

Parker,  Julius  110 

Parker,  T.  J. 109 

Parkinson,  Dr.  D.  B. 101 

Patterson,  T.  C— 61,  73,  150,  276 

Pankey,  Hampton  149 

Patriotic  Day  200 

Pearce,  Newton 

57,  62,  94,  278,  417 

Pearce,    Mrs.    Jane 221,    417 

Peeler    418 

Peeler,   S.   D. 35,   418 

Perkins,  Wm.— 87,  278,  299,  419 

Peck,  J.  M. 125,  155 

Penny,    J.    J. 107 

Penrod   *_ 419 

Pentecostal  Church  122 

Percent — 75 — Rate    70 

Peterson,  W.  M. 234 

Peterson  419,  420 

Phelps,  Paul 279,  420 

Physical,  Features  and  Soils  19 
Physicians 164   to   169 


498 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


Pike,  Capt.  39 

Picnics  83,  85 

Pioneer,  Animals  73 

Plants  and  Seed  68 

Poor  family  421 

Poor,  S.  D. 55,  287,  421 

Poor,  J.  N. 88,  303,  421 

Poor,  Mrs.  Sarah 86>  99,  110 

Pope  County  17,  65,  103,  151,  159 

Pope,  Nathaniel  159 

Population  227,  228 

Poultry    30 

Powell,    T.    B. 421 

Powell,  Miss  Gertrude 89 

Powell,  P.  T 89 

Powell,  William  233 

Post    Creek 34,    35 

Press  105,  109 

Presbyterian   Church   113 

Presbyterian    Churches 

113   to  115 

Presbyterian    ministers 115 

Price,  W.  H. 54,  243 

Price    422 

Principal   products 27,   28 

Prison  Grounds  70 

Prizes   105 

Prow,  Peter  70 

Prohibition    86,    87 

Public  Buildings  59 

Pulaski  County  17 

Quiltings   80 

Quail  Shooting  90 

Questionnaires  205 

Rallies,    Political   Si 

Railroads 57 

Randolph  County  16,  16,  169,  225 
Randolph  County 

Records 247,   248,   249 

Raum,  Green  B 58 

Ray  family  148 

Ray,  Dr.  J.  B. 93.  354 

Read,   James  H. 106 


Rebman,  Miss  Emma 

86,  94,  100.  441 

Rebman,  Park,  Fern  Clyffe 21 

Red  Cross 197,  199,  200 

Reid  423 

Reed,   Thomas   49 

"Reformer"   107 

Reese   423 

Reevesville    292 

Regiment,  120th  223 

Regulators  141 

Renault  155 

Rentfro   424 

Rentfro,   Mark  49 

Renting  27 

Republican   Convention 

216  to   219 

Reunions,    Old    Settlers 83 

Resources    26 

Revivals,   Religious   123 

Reynoldsburg  56,  281 

Reynolds,  Wesley 

34,   56,   284,  423 

Reynolds,  Ivy— -49,  65,  152,  423 

Reynolds,  John-— 14,  54,  55,  145, 

147,  148,  149,  150,  lot 

Reynolds,  Thomas  B. 279,  424 

Richardson,  Nathaniel 240 

Ridenhower,  H.  M.,  Sr. 

216,  220,  223,  425 

Ridenhower,  H.  M.,  Jr. 

279,    293,    426 

Ridenhower,  R.  R. 278,  425 

Ridenhower  293 

Roads 42  to  4S 

Robertson,  Charles  60 

Robertson,  James  240 

Robertson,   J.    J. 426 

Robertson,  R.  L. 61 

Robinson,  John  52 

Rose,  Pleasant 140 

Rose,  Pleasant  477 

Rural  Delivery  56 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


499 


Rushing,  J.  W. 64 

Russell  478 

Sales  78,  79 

Saline,  Lick  47 

Slack,  Mrs.  Mary 63 

Sams,  Henry  150 

Slaves,  Owners  of 155 

Slaves,  Advertisement  for— 156 

Slaves,  Names  of 157 

Salt  Mines   76 

Scates.  Walter  B. 161 

School   Districts 91,  92 

School  Laws,  First  Free 93 

School  Teachers 93,  94 

School   Contest   93 

School   Officers 95,   96 

School  Examiners  96 

School  Attendance   94 

School  Women  in 94,  99,  100 

School  Houses 98,  99 

School  Customs,  early  of  98,  99 
School  County  graduation— 100 
School,  State  Fair,  for  girls  100 
School,  State  Fair,  for  boys  100 

Scott,  Walter  54 

Scott,    Sir   Walter 70 

Seeds,  Shrubs  and  Plants  68,  69 

Serad,  John  106 

Settlers 146,   147,   151,   153 

Sexton   and   Wright 87 

Shawneetown 145,    153,    154, 

159,  160,  161,  295 

Shaver,  Phillip 236 

Shavendicker,   Michael   236 

Shearer,   John 49,   241 

Shearer,   David 91,   427,   428 

Shelby,   William   49 

Sheridan 108,    279,   428 

Shooting   the    flag 222 

Short    428 

Shuckers,  F.  W. 107 

Simpson   Township  18,  281 

Simpson,  Town  of 149,  291 


Simpson,  Wm. 45,  52,  59 

60,  148,  170,  216,  429 

Simpson,   Samuel  Stanton 49 

Simpson,  J.  J.— 74,  94,  113,  438 

Simpson,  Daniel  60 

Simpson,  Lewis  60 

Simpson,  F.  M.,  Sr. 439 

Simpson,  W.  C.  88,  110,  112,  439 

Simpson,  F.  M.,  Jr. 101,  409 

Simpkins,  J.  D. 265 

Simmons    429 

Singing  Conventions  85 

Sloan,  W.  J. 161 

Slack,  John 221,  440 

Slack,  James 86,  440 

Slack, 440,  441 

Simley    52 

Smith,  Jason  B. 62,  175,  277 

Smith,  Robert  233 

Smith,  Millington 46,   442 

Smith,  B.  S.-87,  93,  216,  278,  442 

Smith,  W.  Y. 110,  278,  443 

Smith,  Col.  T.  H. 162 

Smith,  Levi 91,  149,   278 

Smith,  M.  A. 86,  90,  444 

Smith,   L.   M. 32 

Smith,  Jason  B. 478 

Snow,  Mrs.  Mary 223 

Social   78 

Soils   21,  22 

Soper,  Laura  100 

Sorghum  making  76 

Southwestern  League 104 

Spann,  W.  A. 163,  278,  445 

Spann,  H.  A. 163,  279,  445 

Sparks   220 

Special  Train  203 

Spence,  Hon.  W.  A. 445 

Spence,  Merrida  219 

Sports   89 

Squirrel  shooting  90 

Squatters  -—153 

State   Centennial   86 

St.  Clair  County 16,  226 


500 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


St.  Louis,  Alton  &  Terre 

Haute  Railroad  58 

Station,   frontier 153,    154 

Stanton,   Griffith 216,  220 

Stanley,  Marie  104 

Stanley   446 

Stewart,  T.  A. 106,  107 

Stickney,  W.  H. 161 

Stokes  family  150 

Stony  land  23 

Stonefort  148 

Stores,  early 71,  72 

Stratton,  Bridge  43 

Stray  pound  65 

Stout,  Cooper 108 

Stout,  G.  L. 109 

Suit,  John  Grammar's 69 

Sunday  School  Association 

135,   136 

Sumner  family 158 

Tanneries    69 

Taverns    72 

Taylor,  T.  C. 89,  278,  447 

Taylor,   T.   H. 479 

Telephones   56 

Terrell,  J.  W. 93,  217,  218 

Terry,  J.   U.  S. 31,  108 

Terry,  W.  A. 57 

Tecumseh    19 

Teachers  Institute 101 

Temperature    21 

Thacker,  Robert  56 

Thacker,  F.  B 78,  278,  449 

Thacker,  G.  N. 70,  449 

Thebes  15 

Theft  142,  143 

Thomas,  John  R. 162 

Thomas,  Jesse  B. 16 

Thornton,   Capt.   Wm. 18 

Thornton,  J.  L. 63,  64 

Throgmorton,   Josiah 87,    303 

Throgmorton,  Fanny  88 

Throgmorton,  E.  F.-89,  278,  450 
Thulen.  Ebert  108 


Timothy    27 

Tobacco    29 

Todd,  Capt.  John 14 

Topography  20,  21 

Townships 17,  18,  19,  279 

Towns— Early  282 

Tragedy  137,  141 

Trinity   282 

Travel,  for  Pleasure 74,  75 

Trulove,  Charles 28,  32,  279 

Trumbell,  Lyman  217 

Tunnel  Hill   287 

Tunnel  Hill  Township 19,  280 

United    States 14,    36 

United  Brethern  Churches— 123 

Union  County 15,  17,  18,  49 

Union  Courier  105 

University  of  Illinois 

101,    104,    110,   105 

United  States  Judges 254 

Union  League 221 

United  States  Survey,  old 43 

United  War  Workers  Cam- 
paign    201 

Urbana    104 

VanCleve,  M.  T. 63 

Veach,  Ishmael  452 

Veach,  John  L. 32,  278,  357 

Veach,  W.  A. 28,  452 

Veach,  Green  B.— -152,  175,  452 

Veach,   Clifford   452 

Verhines,  T.  H. 32 

Vickers,  A.  K. 109,  453 

Virginians   14 

Vienna  Township 19,  280 

Vienna 61,  255,  294 

"Vienna   Artery"   106 

"Vienna  Democrat"  108 

"Vienna  Herald"  108 

"Vienna  Weekly  Times" 109 

"Vienna  Times"  109 

Volunteers    214,    223 

Votes  for  Lincoln  1860 219 

Wages  32 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


501 


Walker,  Rev.   Levi 220 

Walker    454 

Walker,  W.   P. 454 

Walker,  Dr.  H.  W 454 

Walker,  Lindorf  454 

Walker,   Edward  A. 455 

War,  Black  Hawk 175 

War,   1812   174 

War,  Mexican  175 

War,  Revolutionary— 171  to  174 

War,  Spanish 175,  176 

War,  Civil  176 

War,  Civil  regiments 177 

War,  Civil  Roster 178  to  197 

World  war  soldiers  memorial  63 
War,  World  activities— 196,  207 
War,  Civil,  Political  Situa- 
tion before 216 

War,  Civil,  Political  Situa- 
tion after  223,  224,  225 

Warder,   Joseph 93,    456 

Wartrace  140,  287 

Watson,  Essye  105 

Weaver,  L. 152,  456 

Webb    456 

West  Eden  151 

West,  Hezekiah 

60,  65,  93,  151,  171,  458 

Weir  and  Campbell 70 

West   Vienna   294 

Wheat 28 

Whiteaker,  John  53 

Whiteaker,  Mark— 62,   221,  463 

Whitehead,  Noel 50,  112 

Whittenberg,  D.  W.--88,  56,  112 
Whittenberg,  J.  S— 93,  96.  100 

Whittenberg,  S.  J. 100,  110 

Whitnel,    L.   O. 466,   56 

Whitnel,  Josiah  466 

Whitnel,  Dr.  David  T. 467 

Whitnel,   C.   L. 468 

Whitnel,  Robert  469 

Whitnel,   Dave  64 

Whitehead    479 


Whitemore,  Wm.  T 216,  221 

Whitesides,  James  A. 60,  55 

Whitesides   151 

Whittenberg  480,  481 

Wilson,   Ex-President  221 

Wilson,   Bluford   223 

Wills  244 

Wilkinsonville    282 

Williamson  County  18 

Williams,  W.  L. 90,  290 

Wiley,  W.  R. 138,  464 

Wiley,  H.  B. 219,  464 

Wilcox,  J.  H.  G. 49,  53 

Wilcox,  Isaac 52,  150 

Wilson,  Reuben  49 

Winds    24 

Wise,  William  241 

Wise,  W.   J 95 

Wise,  Hiram  483 

Wool    55 

Wolf,  G.  Lay 112 

Womans  Council,  National 

Defense    200 

World  War  conditions 207 

World  War,  Incidents  203  to  205 
World  War  Soldiers 

205,    206,    207 

World  War,  Registration 203 

Worley  469 

Worley,  John  and  Joseph 148 

Wolf,   Scalps   70 

Wood,  John  106 

Worrell,   F.    E. 471 

Worthington,  Samuel  232 

Worebeck,    Maj.    John 169 

Wright,  Rev.  A. 106,  471 

Wright,   John    27 

Young,  John  D. 106 

Young,  Geo.  W. 162 

Young,  Richard   M. 160,  265 

Yandell,  C.  472 

Yazoo,  Clay  23 

Youtzsee    Sand    Company 31 

Y.  M.  C.  A.  Drives 201 


502 


A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY 


ILLUSTRATIONS 
Map  of  Johnson  County  1812—10 
Map  of  Johnson  County 

1924    320 

"Castle  Rock",  Rebman 

Park,  Fern  Clyffe 144 

"Carnegie  Library",  Vienna, 

Illinois    319 

"Devil's  Stairway",  Rebman 

Park,   Fern    Clyffe 321 


"Flory's  Cave",  Near  Tun- 
nel Hill  321 

"Glen  Fern",  near  Tunnel 
Hill  208 

"Shady  Dell",  Rebman  Park, 
Fern  Clyffe  208 

"Tecumseh  Spring",  Reb- 
man Park,  Fern  Clyffe 143 

"Vienna  Township  High 

School"    144 


msm 


UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS-URBANA 

977.3996C36H  C001 

A  HISTORY  OF  JOHNSON  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS  HE 


3  0112  025400810 


